Today’s good news story comes from the blog #PassItOn.
photo from #PassItOn
It was sent to me by Monika, the head rancher at Tales Around the Ranch blog
Teen Helps Keep 655,000 Batteries Out of Landfills.
May 13, 2025 by By Cathy Stack
EDISON, New Jersey—A 10-year-old started a nationwide movement with a campaign to keep discarded 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 collected the batteries and then took 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 several 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 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.
Here is a link to learn more about this effort.
The good news is that a youngster started a movement to help reduce waste. The reason this is good news is recycled batteries are processed to recover valuable materials, including metals and plastics, which are then reused in new products, including new batteries. The process typically involves shredding, sorting, and then either melting or dissolving the components for materials recovery. Today’s JohnKu talks about involvement. I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks again for this inspiring story, Monika.
Action by John W. Howell © 2025
Some curse the darkness,
Others take action for light . . .
Which side are we on?
Fiction Favorites 
It’s great how young people stand up for a better environment.
Thanks, dear John, for writing about recycling batteriesThe Fab Four of Cley:-) 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I agree and wish the F4oC a peaceful weekend. 😊
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In UK, almost all the major supermarkets have battery recycling bins nowadays 😃
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That is good news indeed. Thanks for the information, Chris. 😊
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Very important. We have an occasional battery recycling program here, which is frustrating. It should really be a 24/7 thing.
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There should be drop-offs in every store.
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John, we really needed that share this morning when good news is in short supply. 😇
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That’s why I dedicate Fridays to good news, making sure we share some at least once a week. Thanks, Pat.
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Very welcome. 😇
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😊
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Fantastic, John!!
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I agree, GP. Thanks.
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Another really cool story.
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I agree. Thanks, Craig.
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This is an awesome project and idea. I hope there are recycling bins here. I’ll poke around and see if I can find one for the day in the future I need to get rid of batteries.
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Good idea. Thanks, Deborah.
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Sixteen years old and he set a Guinness world record and has given two TED talks. Quite the young man.
I used to work in Edison and lived in a little town right next to it. Good to read about the old home state.
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I have always loved to visit NJ. You know, like Upper Montclair.
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My parents had friends in Upper Montclair, and we loved going there. A very pretty part of the state.
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Yes it is.
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That’s really good news, John, that a teen would work hard enough for recycling to found such a successful organization. Thanks for the heartwarming educational post, John.
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These are the best kind. Thanks, Tim.
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What a remarkable young man who’s making a difference. He’s a role model for all.
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That is for sure, Teri. Thanks for the comment.
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It is so inspiring when our youth decides to take matters into their own hands, educating not just those their age, but much older. Wonderful news. Thank you to Monika and to you for sharing!
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Yes, thanks to Monika and to you for the lovely comment.
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Pleasure is all mine!
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A great story, John 🪻💜
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Thank you, Robbie.
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It’s great when a youngster won’t take no for an answer and is determined to do better for the good of the planet. Thank you for the good news story, John.
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Always a pleasure, Esther.
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This is inspiring on so many levels and shows the truth that one person can make a difference!
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That one person only has to believe they can make a difference to do so.
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They don’t make it easy to recycle batteries here, but I have a container for them.
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Good for you. Gotta wonder why it is so hard.
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Fantastic, John, I wish we had such a bin near here.
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Yeah, I feel the same way.
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This IS remarkable! There was a recent news story where someone had tossed batteries into their trash, and the garbage truck caught on fire as a result… I could hardly believe that people don’t realize the dangers in this day and age. This story makes me smile and reminds me that we aren’t doomed to kill ourselves off as long as we have and follow examples such as this young one set!
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Maybe we aren’t doomed to kill ourselves. Thanks for the lovely comment, Annette.
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This kid is an inspiration! We take old batteries to a transfer station. It’s not convenient, but worth the effort. 🌞
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Excellent, Dave. You are doing the right thing.
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Our future generation! Never underestimate the power of kids!
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That is the truth, Jan. Thanks.
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I love this good news on the batteries! My daughter was working on a project with them! 🩷
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Super, Cindy.
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🙌
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😀
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The best part of this story is that it involves kids, trying to do something positive for the world.
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I agree. Thanks, Pete.
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Thanks for using that good news story, John. The young man totally impressed us with his work on such a great project.
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He impressed me as well. Thanks again for the story, Monika.
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My great pleasure. Good news like that story deserve to be shared.
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😀
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That was certainly a great intiative by Sri Nihal Tammana. Good news indeed.
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I agree. Thanks, Thomas. 😊
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Wow, what a massive difference this kid has already made!
Mama done good with this story and you done good by passing it on Boss.
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I agree. He was raised well. Thanks, Pilgrim.
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Great story.
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😊
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Good news indeed! I think most people would recycle more it it were more convenient. I doubt there is not much battery recycling around here but I should check it out. We recycle all we can. Kudos to this young man!
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I agree with you on the convenience. There should be collection bins everywhere.
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The blue chicken country also began this activity, but this is a true adventure to discover the proper battery bins!
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It is very confusing at times.
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Ufff… the country of great liberties is often at a loss with their choice.
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The downside of too much freedom.
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How wonderful!
Sri’s recycling challenge has become a real deal helping the planet.
My respects! Sometimes the ideals of youth are a necessary reminder to the older and jaded.
An especially provocative JohnKu this week, thank you!
🔋X 🪫X 🔋X 🪫X
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Thank you, Resa. I agree, the ideals of youth can produce good things. 🛟X
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We adults just need to listen.
OX OX
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For sure. 👂🏻X
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Absolutely wonderful!
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😀
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Wow. What a kid! Great story, John. I think most people are very willing to recycle if it’s convenient – and there are people like Sri making it happen.
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I would love to have an easy place to leave my batteries. There isn’t one.
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We save them for “Hazardous Waste Collection Day” if we remember!!
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Good idea.
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Great effort. The younger gen will fix the world. 🙂
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I hope they do. Thank you, Debby.
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🙂
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Please who deals with recycling of waste here
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Sorry, this is a humor blog. The only recycling done is stale jokes
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Sir please can I still have a private chat with you?
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