In a nod to the extraordinary success of the ALS Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge, an online business that promotes environmental awareness is launching the Nice Bucket Battery Challenge, a battery recycling campaign to be held throughout the month of October in metropolitan Detroit and beyond.
Don Sherman, president of Greenfundraiserstore.com, wants to see thousands of buckets filled for recycling – but won’t ask anyone to dump batteries over their heads.
“The Ice Bucket Challenge has proven that people will respond to a creative campaign for a great cause,” Sherman said. “Battery recycling is not as urgent as fighting ALS, but we know that people want to be ‘nice’ to our land and water and protect them from toxic substances. We think they’ll get excited about our Nice Bucket Battery Challenge and take new steps to recycle.”
Greenfundraiserstore.com is an online retailer of environmentally responsible products and a promoter of environmental education and alternative fundraising for schools, places of worship and other organizations. “We’re an advocate for ‘green shifts’ in daily living,” Sherman said.
Sherman is asking individuals and organizations to fill plastic buckets with batteries used in electronics and household appliances, and then tell the world at the time they recycle. He hopes participants in the Nice Bucket Battery Challenge will Tweet, text or email messages and photos about their recycling and challenge others to get involved. Participants are encouraged to send messages to info@greenfundraiserstore.com , the Greenfundraiserstore.com Facebook page, @Donaldsherman (Twitter) or Greenfundraiserstore.com Blog Comments Link
Sherman hopes to get elected officials and other well-known figures involved in the Nice Bucket Battery Challenge. Another goal is to get at least 365 schools to conduct battery recycling drives during the 31 days of October. “We plan to share the proceeds of battery recycling products sold from our website with the Michigan Green Schools, Boston (Mass.) Green Schools networks and possibly other groups,” Sherman said. Although Greenfundraiserstore.com sells buckets and boxes specially made for battery recycling, any bucket or container can be used during the Nice Bucket Battery Challenge, he said.
Certain chemicals in household batteries, such as nickel and cadmium, can seep through landfills and cause soil and water pollution that endangers the health of humans and wildlife. Battery collection for recycling takes place at certain retail stores and at recycling centers in many Detroit area communities, such as the North Oakland Household Hazardous Waste Consortium (NO HAZ). There is a fee associated with battery recycling at NO HAZ and some other centers.
“We hope people will take advantage of the Nice Bucket Battery Challenge to learn more about battery recycling options,” Sherman said. “Even when a minimal cost is involved, it is much less than the long-term cost of putting our natural resources at risk.”
Source: Green Fundraiser Store