"Recycle My Battery" Now A Global Effort, Derek Silva

At the age of 10, Sri Nihal Tammana from Monroe, New Jersey, founded the nonprofit organization Recycle My Battery after learning about the environmental hazards posed by improperly discarded batteries. By the time he turned 15, Tammana's initiative had successfully recycled over 625,000 batteries and installed more than 1,000 recycling bins in schools, libraries, and businesses to facilitate proper disposal.

Recycle My Battery has grown into a global movement, engaging over 1,000 youth volunteers dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of throwing batteries into regular trash. The organization conducted research demonstrating that a single degrading alkaline battery can significantly increase soil salinity, rendering it toxic with a pH of 13.01—far beyond levels suitable for vegetation.

Tammana's efforts have gained international recognition. His story and mission were featured in a German educational textbook, integrating battery recycling advocacy into school curriculums. Additionally, he partnered with B-cycle, Australia's largest battery recycling company, to implement his initiative in schools nationwide.

Beyond recycling, Tammana has focused on education and awareness, delivering TED talks such as "Saving Earth, One Battery at a Time" and "Recycle My Battery: Empowering Communities." His work has earned him accolades including the CNN Heroes Young Wonder Award in 2022 and recognition as a top three finalist for the International Children's Peace Prize in 2023.

Through Recycle My Battery, Tammana exemplifies how youth-led initiatives can drive significant environmental change, inspiring communities worldwide to adopt sustainable practices.

Nihal Tammana started the nonprofit, Recycle My Battery, and now, at 15 years old, he has already recycled over 625,000 batteries—and placed over 1,000 battery bins in schools, libraries, and businesses to make recycling easier.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/boy-starts-nonprofit-and-recycles-625000-batteries-by-age-15-with-hundreds-of-youth-joining-in/

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