Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is celebrating another outstanding environmental achievement after schools across the County Borough helped recycle a huge 1,210 kilograms of batteries through the 2025-26 Schools Battery Recycling Challenge.
A total of 47 schools were charged up and ready to take up the challenge, collecting used household batteries for safe recycling and disposal, helping to prevent hazardous materials from entering the environment.
Results were calculated according to the amount collected per pupil, with the following schools taking the top three places:
- Cwmaman Primary School – 0.85kg per pupil (£300 prize)
- Cwmbach Church in Wales Primary School – 0.47kg per pupil (£100 prize)
- YGGG Llantrisant – 0.42kg per pupil (£50 prize)
Children from the winning schools were presented with framed certificates and large prize cheques in recognition of their excellent efforts and commitment to protecting the environment.
The competition encouraged pupils, staff, families and local communities to collect unwanted household batteries and ensure they were recycled correctly, preventing potentially harmful waste from ending up in landfill.
Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, which includes Waste and Recycling, Councillor Ann Crimmings said:
"I'd like to congratulate every school that took part in the Battery Recycling Challenge and thank them for helping collect such an impressive amount of batteries for recycling."
"Batteries contain valuable materials that can be recovered and reused, but they also contain substances that can be harmful if not disposed of correctly. This challenge has helped raise awareness of the importance of battery recycling while delivering a significant environmental benefit."
"The dedication shown by pupils, teachers and families across Rhondda Cynon Taf has been remarkable. Collecting more than 1.2 tonnes of batteries is a tremendous achievement and everyone involved should be extremely proud."
"Congratulations to our winning schools and thank you to everyone who played their part in making the challenge such a success."
The Battery Recycling Challenge highlights the importance of recycling batteries safely. Residents can recycle used household batteries at local collection points across Rhondda Cynon Taf, including supermarkets and Community Recycling Centres, helping to recover valuable materials and reduce the risk of fires caused by incorrectly discarded batteries.
For further information on recycling in Rhondda Cynon Taf, visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/recycling.
Posted on 06/08/2026