For the last nine months, students of the Podar International School have been collecting disposable batteries in a plastic container, so that they can be recycled. The project is the brainchild of Nishant Jain (16), a Ghatkopar resident, who kicked off the initiative in September 2015, after he came to know about the harmful effects of disposable batteries on the environment.
"Last year, I suffered a health problem because of the harmful smoke coming from the smouldering Deonar dumping yard. It made me think about the cause of the fire and solutions at a primary level. The batteries we use contain various chemicals. If they get in contact with heat, they explode. In our city, not many people segregate e-waste. The batteries are not the primary reason for the fire, but they definitely contribute."
Jain started his research into the matter in February last year, and came up with potential solutions – including collecting batteries instead of dumping them. So far, with the help of his schoolmates, he has collected over 6kg disposable batteries and given them for recycling. After the success of his project in the secondary section of his school, he will soon introduce the initiative in the primary section of his schools, as well as other schools in the city.
"When I started, there was not much awareness about e-waste. According to a research, India consumes around 2.5 billion batteries every year. It took me more than two months to create an impact among students in my school and make them realise about the harmful chemicals in the batteries. The batteries were collected in a plastic box, so that the chemicals did not leak. I choose to collect batteries, since it is convenient for school students to carry them."
