Teen Helps Keep 655,000 Batteries Out of Landfills.

After watching the news with his family and seeing a waste disposal plant fire that had been caused by a lithium-ion battery, Sri Nihal Tammana decided to do some research. He learned that people discard 15 billion batteries each year and most end up in landfills. These batteries can create toxic chemical pollution and dangerous fires.

Motivated to tackle the environmental hazard, Sri Nihal began collecting batteries in his neighborhood. After recruiting volunteers to help, the effort soon laid the groundwork for developing a full-scale non-profit program.

When Sri Nihal began his environmental movement, he would collect the batteries and then take them to a retail store that offered a recycling program. To his disappointment, the store notified him that he would have to discontinue his effort due to the bin’s limited capacity.

Determined to continue the program, Sri Nihal contacted Call2Recycle to form a partnership. Call2Recycle agreed to provide free, fire-proof recycling bins for school libraries and various business offices. Encouraged, Sri Nihal then contacted his school district’s superintendent for permission to place the bins in the school district’s 19 schools, which he received. Then he recruited students to volunteer their time to distribute the bins.

The program has now evolved into a non-profit organization, Recycle My Battery, which installs the battery recycling bins in strategic public places. To date, nearly 655,000 batteries have been deposited in these bins and kept out of landfills. The organization also educates millions about the importance of preventing environmental harm by recycling batteries.

“If I can make Earth a better place to live, you can!” encourages Sri Nihal. “If you can make Earth a better place to live, we all can!”

Battery recycling provides a number of environmental benefits. Keeping batteries out of landfills prevents harmful elements and chemicals, such as mercury and lead, from seeping into groundwater. Recycling these materials also conserves natural resources, which in turn helps prevent further pollution from extraction processes. It also aids in the prevention of dangerous fires.

Recycle My Battery has grown to a team of 900 passionate student volunteers. There are 1,000 bins in schools, libraries and businesses nationwide.

Students can start a school-based battery recycling challenge by signing up on the Recycle My Battery website. Individuals can also visit the website to request a battery recycling bin or to start a chapter in their own community.

“Earth gives us so much – oxygen, food, water – everything!”– so it’s important that we give something back when we can,” Sri Nihal said.

In 2022, Sri Nihal received the CNN Heroes Young Wonder Award for his work creating Recycle My Battery.

Now 16, he continues to spread the movement. Through media news outlets, school programs and corporate workshops, he increases public awareness about the program and its impact on the environment. He has delivered two TED talks in which he discusses the hazards of battery waste and solutions to address the problem. He and his team also set a Guinness World Record for laying out the longest line of batteries.

“Through education, innovation and advocacy, I aim to mobilize millions more changemakers and ensure a cleaner, safer planet for future generations—one battery at a time,” said Sri Nihal.

The Foundation and PassItOn believe that Sri Nihal is a hero. His inspiring action is a great example of making a difference. His work provides a powerful reminder that through passion, dedication and action, we can all make a positive change in the world.

To learn more: https://recyclemybattery.org/