Springfield’s Woodcrest State College has taken out top spot in a national recycling program after students helped recycle over 1000 kilograms of batteries.
Students won $2000 for collecting 1035kg in the annual Big Battery Challenge, a national school challenge launched by Stockland with The National Theatre for Children.
Teacher Sharnel Faulds said the students were all Year 7 members of the school’s Student Council last year.
Student Georgina McKenzie-Crowley said the council decided to enter to save the environment.
“It is helping save the environment and it helps save all these batteries which goes to landfill.
“It helps save money as well and it’s really great for the community and the environment in the long run.
Ms Faulds said the challenge was a year-long effort.
“It took 12 months to collect batteries. We submitted them at the end of last year and this year we found out that we had won.”
She said the second place-getter managed to collect 50kg
“Stockland offered $100 for every 100kg so we got another $1000 off Stockland as well,” she said. The money will go towards the council for other projects.
Georgina explained that each class at their primary school of 400-500 people were given a tub to collect spent device batteries.
“We went to these classrooms once a fortnight or month and we got the tubs and emptied them into a larger bin which was then carted off to Stockland.”
She said students from their neighbouring high school also pitched in.
“A lot of high schoolers were putting in an effort to help their younger siblings,” she said.
Ms Faulds said the tubs are already back in place and under the supervision of the new Student Council.
Amy Hogan, the Head of Sustainability at Stockland, was very pleased by the result.
“We’re thrilled to see Woodcrest State College take out the top spot in the 2021 Big Battery Rescue challenge by diverting more than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous environmental waste from landfill,” she said.
“The challenge is on again, and Stockland is encouraging children across 25 schools nationally to collect used batteries from across their communities and learn more about sustainability, just like Woodcrest State College.
“Stockland is passionate about healthy and sustainable communities, and grassroots initiatives like the Big Battery Rescue challenge help to create meaningful changes within communities,” said Ms Hogan.
