More than 300 bins were placed in the quarters and parks of Chisinau for collecting used batteries within the BATEREC campaign that was launched last September. According to the Ministry of Environment, this is a drive aimed at protecting the environment and at informing the residents of the capital city about the separate collection of used batteries and storage batteries, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Ministry says that about 200 kg of batteries are monthly collected for recycling within the campaign. It is planned to collect a total of 15 tonnes of used batteries, which will be transported to France for recycling.

Specialists say that the new and used batteries contain metallic elements with great molecular weight and have the characteristics of dangerous waste. Therefore, the batteries should be stored appropriately or they become dangerous for health and harmful to the environment.

It was established that one used battery thrown into the garbage bin can pollute a square meter of area and 10 liters of water when on the waste dump. When 1,000 portable batteries are recycled, 190 kg of metal suitable for use in industry are obtained.

The campaign BATEREC represents a project to separately collected used batteries and storage batteries. Its goal is to sensitize the people to the necessity of collecting these. The campaign is carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland through the Polish Development Cooperation Program “Polska Pomoc”.