A Cumbria-wide school battery recycling campaign is back for 2025/26, encouraging young people to safely recycle used batteries and protect the environment.
Following the success of last year’s school 'baa-ttery campaign' – which saw over two tonnes of used batteries collected and diverted from household waste – Westmorland and Furness Council, alongside campaign partners, is proud to announce the return of the initiative as part of a Cumbria-wide effort.
The campaign will run until Friday 13 February 2026, giving schools plenty of time to collect and safely dispose of used batteries including AAs, AAAs, LR20s and lithium-ion batteries.
The initiative, managed by Biffa, highlights the dangers of improperly disposing of batteries. When batteries are placed in general waste or recycling bins, they can be damaged during collection, transportation or treatment, potentially igniting and causing serious fires. By providing safe and easy recycling options, the campaign aims to protect people, property and the environment.
Each year, a staggering 3.2 million batteries are discarded in Cumbria’s waste – equal to the weight of more than 3,650 Herdwick sheep – making safe disposal more important than ever.
To make recycling easier, free battery collection boxes have once again been distributed to participating schools by campaign partner Valpak Ltd. When full, schools can request a free collection, ensuring the safe disposal of batteries, and delivery of a replacement box. Any schools wishing to participate and find out more, should email: hayley.slack@biffa.co.uk.
The Council, together with Cumberland Council, is donating a total of 12 book token prizes:
- 4 prizes of £300
- 4 prizes of £200
- 4 prizes of £100
Building on last year’s achievements, the 2025 campaign has been extended to include secondary schools as well as primary schools, helping to involve even more young people and families across the county.
Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said:
“Last year’s success made it an obvious decision to run the campaign again. By working with schools, we’re not only preventing batteries from ending up in household waste but also inspiring our young people to take the lead in environmental responsibility. They are the next generation of changemakers and campaigns like this show the real impact their actions can have.
“I’m pleased to see the campaign extended to secondary schools this year, widening its reach and giving even more young people the chance to get involved. This year’s campaign will also span the festive season when battery use typically peaks and so this is a crucial time to remind everyone about the importance of safe disposal. With more than 1,200 battery fires recorded in the UK waste sector last year, raising awareness has never been more important.”
