The Collection of Used Batteries has Begun

On May 6, the organization IDEA, with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, launched a new project on proper waste management. Within the project, used batteries, which are considered one of the most hazardous household wastes, will be collected and sorted into special containers.

It should be noted that 20 kg of one alkaline battery was accidentally discarded, leading to the conclusion of heavy metal contamination of the area. Hazardous substances from discarded batteries seep into the soil and groundwater, posing a significant risk to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and causing numerous health issues in humans. Considering that batteries are made of hazardous chemicals, the main goal of the project is to conduct educational activities among schoolchildren about the serious consequences of their disposal along with other waste.

At the initiative of the Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA, Leyla Aliyeva, IDEA implements a number of successful projects aimed at reducing and efficiently managing waste, promoting recycling, and educating youth about the negative impact of waste on the environment. An example is the project for the collection and recycling of paper and plastic waste, implemented jointly with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the company "Azersun." Within this project, over 1000 special containers for paper and plastic waste have been installed in higher and secondary educational institutions, organizations, and private establishments.

One of the latest successful projects implemented within the waste management program is the installation of donation boxes for collecting unused clothing and footwear by IDEA in Baku.

The first 20 boxes, produced as part of the battery collection project in Baku, were placed in secondary schools in Baku. The collected batteries will be regularly collected and stored at the landfill of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.

In order to properly manage waste and engage youth in environmental protection, it is planned to install battery collection boxes in all higher and secondary educational institutions in Baku