Green champion boosts battery recycling

Sophie Dawson, 11, who encouraged her parents Liz and Paul and brothers Adam and Mark to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, started the initiative at St Mary's College yesterday.

The city council has teamed up with Valpak to offer all residents in Hull battery recycling facilities at schools and council buildings.

Valpak's collection agent G&P Batteries Ltd will collect and reprocess all waste materials without charge.

The three schools that recycle the most batteries will each win a prize of book vouchers. The council predicts that 50 per cent of all household waste will be recycled by the end of the year – beating its target of 45 per cent.

PICTURE: TERRY CARROTT.