EWB-BU Project: Battery Recycling

Demonstrated Need

During our assessment trip, one observation raised particular concern. In a community with no electricity much of the night is lit with flashlights and lanterns. The batteries are brought to Chirimoto from nearby cities but not disposed of in a responsible fashion. Batteries are often thrown in the grass and promptly replaced with batteries that will find themselves on the ground in a few days. Worse still, we found that some farmers will break open used batteries and use the battery acid as a disinfectant for cattle because it kills germs and repels flies. The issues surrounding this matter were brought to the attention of the regional government during a meeting with EWB-BU.

Objectives of the Project

1. Educate community about the dangers of toxins in food and water supplies.
2. Reduce toxic chemicals in soil and ground water.
3. Establish a medium for removal and transportation of waste

Progress

This project was taken and implemented by the regional government and international corporations. The regional government, Auspician, TEC NEC, Motorola, Eco Almacenes, Metro and Wong have begun implementation by installing recycling bins in local villages. In a recent visit, Lucho (our primary contact in Chirimoto) brought EWB-BU a flyer that was posted in Chirimoto regarding this initiative. Pilas Y Baterias Brochure

The educational initiative for our battery-recycling project is still pertinent and will continue as part of the Hummingbird House community education initiative.