Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Campania at the forefront in the collection of exhausted batteries

Tuscany, Emilia Romagna And Campania these are the three regions from which the project started Energy to the Cube from Erion Energy, which aims to educate citizens on the correct disposal of exhausted batteries. In the municipalities of Florence, Massa Lubrense in the province of Naples, Misano Adriatico, Sorbolo Mezzani, Noceto, Montechiarugolo, Rubiera, Castellarano And Quattro Castella (all seven in Emilia-Romagna) were the “yellow boxes” of Erion Energy to help in the collection of batteries that have reached the end of their life. Once full, in fact, they can be emptied at certain collection points located in each city that participates in the initiative, thanks to the partnership with urban hygiene managers. Alia Environmental Services, Iren, Hera And Land of the Sirens.

He was the forerunner Massa Lubrense where, starting from Monday 27 June and for the following two weeks, the approximately 15,000 citizens received together with the bag for the home collection of waste, even 10,000 boxes where they can deliver the exhausted batteries (the initiative was then repeated for all the month of October). “As councilor for the environment of the municipality of Massa Lubrense, I was delighted to join the ‘Energia al Cubo’ project promoted by Erion Energy – she declares Sonia Bernardo, councilor for the environment of the municipality of Massa Lubrense – The data that struck me is that according to the latest Cdcnpa report in 2020 the collection of Rpa (ed, waste batteries and accumulators) in Italy reached 42.65% of the amount released for consumption, and therefore the remaining part ends up in undifferentiated rejection with all that follows. Therefore, a project like ‘Energy to the cube’ which aims to raise awareness among citizens on the need to collect low batteries by also increasing the collection points is to be appreciated and participating in it is important to encourage everyone’s commitment to sustainable development ”.

A project that is also aimed at students with ad hoc educational activities to raise awareness ofimportance of proper recycling: about 700 girls and boys from primary, middle and high schools in Massa Lubrense will be involved in an environmental challenge. The institution that has collected the most exhausted batteries will be awarded a prize equivalent to teaching material.

“Educating the youngest to good practices of separate waste collection means growing aware citizens, who can become promoters in the family and in the community of virtuous behavior for the environment. This is why we are proud that ‘Energia al Cubo’ not only enters Italian homes with boxes for collecting exhausted batteries but also in schools, thus involving the new generations – he says Laura Castelli, general manager of Erion Energy – Still too often these wastes are thrown in the unsorted or kept closed in drawers, with important environmental consequences and jeopardizing the recovery of raw materials essential for the development of strategic sectors for our economy – adds Castelli – Reversing this trend is very necessary and we are convinced that to do this we need more information and awareness, but also reduce the obstacles that citizens encounter in implementing virtuous behavior “.

TO Misano Adriatico Energy at the Cube instead it went on stage in September. “The collaboration with Hera and Erion Energy is confirmed as solid and valuable – explains theEnvironment councilor of the municipality of Misano Adriatico, Nicola Schivardi – By adhering to this project, which underlies a principle of reuse, we want to continue in the path traced for some years to make Misano an increasingly ecological and attentive to environmental issues. We want to involve not only citizens and tourists, through the distribution of the binders in the city committees of each fraction and at the IAT, but also schools, to educate our young people in careful and aware choices and actions “.

At the beginning of this month the initiative started in the municipalities of Sorbolo Mezzani, Noceto, Montechiarugolo, Rubiera, Castellarano And Quattro Castella where, in addition to the distribution of collection boxes, citizens are called to challenge each other in a contest dedicated to correct separate collection: the country in which the largest number of exhausted batteries will be collected will rise on the podium. The winner will receive a set of urban furniture made of recycled plastic, while each participating municipality will still be donated trees to be planted on public land.

The last municipality to launch the Erion Energy was Florence, which will be the protagonist for the whole month of October. “We are pleased to participate in the Energy at the Cube initiative in 14 Florentine schools and also involve the citizens who, at the two ecological centers and the eco-vans that they find weekly in the local markets, will be able to collect their box to insert the exhausted batteries and then return them to the same centers – specifies Nicola Ciolini, president of Alia Environmental Services – Already today in Florence about 2.5 tons of exhausted batteries are collected separately per month, which are then sent to treatment plants, thus guaranteeing the recovery of precious materials. Every initiative aimed at increasing the knowledge of sustainable routes even of lesser known waste, but which if badly managed can have a negative impact on the environment, deserves our sharing, especially when schools become the protagonists ”.