Homes for discarded batteries

As used household batteries should not go in garbage bins, many localities have set up homes for used batteries for proper treatment and recycling. The model has contributed to environmental protection.

A resident in Van Thanh Ward, Nha Trang City puts used batteries into "Home for disposed batteries" to protect the environment.

For many months, Phung Hung born in 1960 residing in Van Phuong residential Group, Van Thanh Ward, Nha Trang City has brought his used batteries to throw into the “homes for discarded batteries for environmental protection” set up by the Ward Women’s Association at 8 Thong Nhat St.  “The model helps collect discarded batteries and thus contribute to environmental protection in the community,” he said.

According to Luong Thi Thanh Nu, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Van Thanh Ward, the model has been implemented by the association since October 2023, attracting 6 women's association affiliations and residents to join hands in protecting the environment. The model has collected about 8kg of used batteries for proper treatment and recycling.

There must be a lot of used batteries from remote controls in many hotels so Tan Lap Ward Fatherland Front (Nha Trang) along with the Women's Association, Youth Union, and Veterans Association of the ward have implemented the "homes for disposed batteries” since May 2023.  The homes are installed at 4 public locations, including the Residential Area at 120 Nguyen Thien Thuat, Tran Quoc Toan Junior High School, Bac Thanh Church and Ngo Gia Tu Apartment Building.

Mass organizations have coordinated with the Head of the Residential Group to pay home visits in the ward to persuade residents to bring their used batteries to the collection sites to prevent exposed batteries from harming the living environment. The "homes" are emptied by Youth Union members every month.

People in Ninh Da ward, Ninh Hoa Town exchange used batteries for gifts.

On Green Sundays and Volunteer Saturdays, the Ward Youth Union also goes door to door to collect old batteries. The model has proved effective thanks to the consensus and backing of local residents. In January 2024, another home for used batteries at Tan Lap 1 Primary School with 20 - 30kg of disposed batteries collected a month on average.

According to Nguyen Ly Duong Trung, Secretary of Tan Lap Ward Youth Union, collected batteries will be taken to An Sinh Trading and Construction Co., Ltd. headquartered in Quang Nam Province to ensure safety for the environment and human health. In 2023, after only 3 months of implementation, the model collected about 100kg of old batteries for proper treatment. To attract the involvement of residents, Tan Lap Ward has planned to hold a trash-for-plant exchange day for people to exchange waste batteries for plants.

Used batteries are collected for proper treatment.

In late May, at the launching ceremony of the "homes for discarded batteries" model located at the Community House, the Women's Association of Ha Thanh 2 Residential Group (Ninh Da Ward, Ninh Hoa Town) organized the program "trash-for-gift" attracting 60 participants to exchange discarded batteries for gifts, including baskets, notebooks, etc.

Along with the collection of used batteries, the homes are beautifully decorated with catchy environmental messages such as “Properly disposing of batteries to protect the environment - for you and me and for the future generations.” There is information about the adverse effects of improperly disposed batteries on the environment.

According to Nguyen Thanh Diep, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tan Lap Ward (Nha Trang), the "homes for disposed batteries" model is highly supported by residents, contributing to raising public awareness of environmental preservation. In the coming time, the Party Committee will direct the Ward Fatherland Front and mass organizations to expand the environmental model.

C.T

Translated by N.T