Sophiasburgh Central School in Prince Edward County was announced as the winning school in Call2Recycle’s Spring 2024 Battery Blitz contest, collecting over 821 kg of batteries.
There were 89 participating elementary schools in Ontario that together collected over 11,000 kg of used batteries.
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson attended the school for last week’s award ceremony where he presented a cash prize to the students that can be used towards purchasing materials, experiences and technology.
Call2Recycle and Earth Rangers have been partnering since 2015 to run the Battery Blitz Contest, collecting over 100,000 kg of used batteries across Canada.
The contest offers a fun and interactive opportunity for local elementary school students to learn about how battery recycling helps protect the environment.
Sophiasburgh blew away the competition. The next closest school was a London, Ontario school which collected about 521 kg of batteries.
Carla McFarlane, principal of Sophiasburgh Central School, said, “We are incredibly proud of our students for how hard they’ve worked to recycle. Their enthusiasm shows that even small actions, like properly disposing of batteries, can have a huge impact on protecting our environment. By working together, we are making a positive environmental impact and teaching the next generation the value of sustainability and responsibility.”
Steve Ferguson, mayor of Prince Edward County, said, “I’m proud to see Sophiasburgh Central school be an example of environmental commitment among Ontario schools. By showing how to responsibly manage waste such as used batteries, we encourage all our residents to make sustainable choices and lead the way to making Prince Edward County a truly sustainable community.”
“The 2024 Spring Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! Battery Blitz Contest was a great success across Canada, particularly in Ontario, where we collected over 11 tonnes of used batteries,” said Jordan Covens, director of marketing at Call2Recycle. “We are thrilled to see young Canadians developing strong recycling habits that will have a lasting positive impact on our environment for years to come.”
The 2024 fall edition of the Battery Blitz Contest ended October 31 with results to be revealed in the coming months.
Schools interested in signing up for the next 2025 edition can contact Earth Rangers at lgalati@earthrangers.com.
