Saturday, 04 October 2025
In 2024, school students across Ireland played a pivotal role in environmental stewardship by collecting more than 1.5 million used batteries through the WEEE Ireland Schools Battery Recycling Competition. This impressive achievement prevented a vast amount of hazardous battery waste from entering landfill sites, helping to advance sustainable waste management practices nationwide. Why Battery Recycling […]
In 2024, school students across Ireland played a pivotal role in environmental stewardship by collecting more than 1.5 million used batteries through the WEEE Ireland Schools Battery Recycling Competition. This impressive achievement prevented a vast amount of hazardous battery waste from entering landfill sites, helping to advance sustainable waste management practices nationwide.
Batteries contain hazardous substances like mercury, cadmium, and lead, which can leak into soil and waterways if not properly disposed of. Additionally, batteries include critical raw materials such as lithium and cobalt, both of which are finite resources. Recovering these materials through recycling reduces the demand for environmentally damaging mining operations and supports the development of more sustainable supply chains.
Battery recycling plays a key role in the circular economy, a system where resources are reused and regenerated instead of discarded. By reclaiming valuable materials from used batteries, Ireland moves closer to a more efficient and less wasteful economic model. This also lowers the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new batteries from raw materials, contributing to the country’s climate goals.
Among the standout performers was Cloonfour National School in Roscommon, which, with just 40 pupils, collected the equivalent of 2,000 AA batteries per student, a remarkable individual contribution demonstrating the commitment of small schools to environmental protection.
Programmes like the WEEE Ireland Schools Competition not only reduce waste, they also educate and inspire. Early exposure to environmental issues helps cultivate eco-consciousness in students, encouraging them to adopt sustainable habits for life. Many schools now incorporate climate and recycling education into their curriculum, reinforcing the idea that small actions can have big impacts.
Schools from Galway, Carlow, Roscommon, Waterford, and Donegal also participated, each receiving a €2,000 sports voucher as recognition for their efforts. This competition motivated thousands of students to take an active role in recycling, fostering a culture of responsibility toward battery disposal.
The competition was held ahead of the implementation of the new EU Batteries Regulation in August 2023, which introduces stricter rules for battery manufacturers, including higher collection, recycling, and recovery targets.
Elizabeth O’Reilly, Head of Environmental Compliance at WEEE Ireland, said:
“The new EU Batteries Regulation raises the bar for all of us, and schools across Ireland are proving they are ready to meet that challenge.”
Recycling efforts ensure valuable materials such as cobalt, copper, lead, lithium, and nickel are recovered and reintegrated into the manufacturing cycle, supporting a more sustainable and circular battery economy.
The programme also benefits LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, WEEE Ireland’s charity partner. Over 14 years, funds raised through battery recycling initiatives have totalled €610,000, significantly supporting specialized care and services for children and families across Ireland.
Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn, expressed gratitude:
“The funds we have received from WEEE Ireland as a result of battery recycling programme over the last 14 years of this partnership have had such a positive impact on the children and families who avail of LauraLynn’s specialised care and supports all across Ireland.”
WEEE Ireland continues to encourage schools, families, and communities nationwide to participate actively in battery recycling efforts to meet new regulatory targets and protect the environment for future generations.
The success of the WEEE Ireland Schools Battery Recycling Competition highlights the powerful role young people, schools, and communities can play in protecting the environment. By collecting over 1.5 million used batteries, Irish students have not only prevented harmful waste from entering landfills but also contributed to the recovery of valuable materials and the support of a vital children’s charity.
As Ireland prepares to meet the requirements of the new EU Batteries Regulation, initiatives like this demonstrate that meaningful climate action can start in the classroom, and inspire lasting change far beyond it.
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