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Battery Blitz Contest Drives Sustainability Engagement With Local Students

Collaboration Between Call2Recycle, Chittenden Solid Waste District and Earth Rangers Boosts Environmental Awareness in Vermont Schools
(ATLANTA, Ga) April 18, 2025 — Call2Recycle, the nation’s largest consumer battery stewardship and collection program, in partnership with the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) and Earth Rangers, is thrilled to share results from The Battery Blitz School contest. Involving seven Vermont schools, the contest brought in more than 4,000 pounds of batteries (equivalent to 15 black bears, native to VT) and spotlighted The Battery Blitz School Mission, which focuses onbringing together young students, teachers, and community members with the united act of collecting and recycling used batteries.
Running January 20, 2025 through February 18, 2025, participants included: Shelburne Community School, Underhill Central School, Williston Central School, Thomas Fleming School, Champlain Elementary School, Browns River Middle School, and C.P. Smith Elementary School. Underhill Central School collected the most batteries and won the ultimate prize—a classroom pizza party and $1,000 check. Champlain Elementary School 5th grade came in second place winning $750, third place was Thomas Fleming School winning $500 and fourth place went to C.P. Smith Elementary School 2nd grade winning $250.
Across the month-long contest period, students filled Call2Recycle collection boxes with used batteries found in remote controls, toys, flashlights and other household devices. A big part of the contest centered on the safe collection and handling of used batteries, which included collection directions for placing batteries in a clear plastic bag or covering the battery terminals with tape (electrical, duct, or packing) to prevent sparks during transport. Those looking for additional details on safe battery management can visit bit.ly/3P4eSNv.
With the goal of teaching kids about the importance of recycling batteries and encouraging collection campaigns, The Battery Blitz combines classroom instruction and hands-on lessons with community engagement. As batteries are banned from landfills in Vermont, the contest presented an interactive opportunity to engage local youth in an accessible sustainability challenge. Students learned valuable insights about battery recycling—including the impact of improper disposal on the environment—and how their act of recycling batteries can turn old batteries into new products they use everyday like sunscreen and stainless steel appliances.
“Empowering local students to recycle batteries today means a cleaner planet tomorrow,” shared Call2Recycle President & CEO Leo Raudys. “The Battery Blitz contest exemplifies the power of community engagement and how small actions can lead to big environmental impact. Kudos to all of our participating schools for making a difference!”
“We are thrilled with the response of our students and schools involved in the Battery Blitz contest,” offered CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves. “This fun, hands-on sustainability initiative demonstrates how, by working together, we can reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and create a cleaner, greener community for future generations.”
A big thank you to all of the incredible staff, teachers, students, families and supporters who made The Battery Blitz contest such a purposeful event. We look forward to continued opportunities to empower and inspire local youth to participate in community-oriented sustainability initiatives. To learn more about The Battery Blitz School Mission Contest, visit bit.ly/3UTrmKt.
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Call2Recycle, the nation’s leading battery recycling nonprofit and stewardship program, is committed to protecting the environment and fostering a circular economy by facilitating the recycling and end-of-life management of batteries that power our everyday lives. With more than 30 years of experience collaborating with state regulators, manufacturers, and the recycling industry, Call2Recycle strives to make battery recycling convenient and accessible for all U.S. consumers. Learn more at call2recycle.org and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) is a municipality created by member Towns and Cities to reduce and manage the solid waste generated within Chittenden County in an environmentally sound, efficient, effective, and economical manner.
Earth Rangers is the kids’ conservation organization, committed to instilling environmental knowledge, positivity, and the confidence to take action in every child. We do this through a suite of free programming that is educational and engaging – but more importantly, shows children that it’s not too late to help the planet, and the things we do today will matter tomorrow.