Primary school pupils in Powys could win a share of £600 in Amazon vouchers for their school by recycling as many household batteries as possible.

Powys County Council is running its annual free battery recycling competition and is urging schools across the county to sign up. Participating schools will receive a free battery collection box and can start gathering everyday batteries - including those from toys, remote controls, radios, and hearing aids - immediately. Schools have until July 2026 to collect as many as they can.

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said: “This competition not only gives schools the chance to win some vouchers, but it also encourages pupils and their families to recycle their batteries. Last year 48 Powys primary schools took part in the competition, collecting and recycling over three tonnes of batteries! I would urge every school in the county to sign up this year and get recycling.

“Batteries are made from recyclable metals including steel, lead, cadmium, zinc, lithium and mercury. Each battery collected by a school will be taken apart and the recovered materials used to make new batteries and other items, rather than being lost forever.

“Teaching our future generations about the importance of recycling is a really important job. Participating schools will be instilling good recycling behaviours messages to the pupils and helping their communities cut carbon emissions, boost recycling rates, and inspiring everyone to recycle more.”

The competition is being sponsored by the European Recycling Platform, the council’s compliance scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment and batteries.

Schools can register by emailing: [email protected]