The campaign "Put the batteries and recycle 2016"

64 nautical clubs, sailing and marine schools and other centers dedicated to nautical activity throughout Spain are participating this summer in the campaign to collect used batteries and batteries launched for the second consecutive year by the Ecomar and Ecopilas Foundation. This means 20% more centres than in 2015. Each of the nautical clubs and schools will have a compiler identical to the more than 32,700 that Ecopilas has deployed throughout Spain and in which the partners will be able to deposit domestic batteries. Ecopilas, leader in the collection of used batteries and batteries from our country, has been working with the Ecomar Foundation since the summer of 2014, through its environmental education program Grímpola Ecomar. This initiative of the foundation, chaired by the double Olympic sailing champion, Theresa Zabell, is aimed at children between 7 and 14 years of age, among which it promotes the protection of the Spanish coast through education in the recycling culture. It should be noted that the Recyclia environmental platform, in which Ecopilas is integrated, recognized Theresa Zabell in 2015, with the "I Recyclia Medio Ambiente"in the category "Greater Support of a Personality for the Promotion of Recycling "for his work at the head of the Ecomar Foundation.

"Put on the batteries and recycle" competition

This is the second consecutive year in which Ecopilas and the Ecomar Foundation launched this awareness campaign, which, in the summer of 2015, recycled a ton of batteries. As part of the initiative, both non-profit entities also celebrate the second edition of the "Put on the Stacks and Recycle" contest, which will award with sports material the three clubs that collect the most batteries in the Ecopilas compilators until August 31. The environmental foundation collected 2,522 tons of batteries throughout Spain in 2015, of which 2,162 are domestic, the equivalent of 36% of the average of the batteries put up for sale by the manufacturers in the previous three years. For this purpose, Ecopilas has the largest collection point network in our country, with 32,769 compilators deployed in 2015.

Statements

Theresa Zabell, President of the Ecomar Foundation:"Last year was a total success despite the fact that we started a little late to raise awareness among clubs that they had to transmit to everyone that they would bring from their homes the batteries spent to put them in the compilers. In a couple of months more than two tons of batteries I think it is a success, because in Spain we still have no recycling culture. From Ecopilas, a commendable job is being done to make all the children of Spain aware of the importance of recycling."

José Pérez, President of Ecopilas: "Each Spanish consumes an average of 11 batteries per year, resulting in more than 500 million discarded units. This volume of batteries represents a major environmental challenge. It is therefore essential to disseminate the recycling of batteries as a means of protecting our environment and to stop the accelerated depletion of natural and energy resources, through awareness-raising campaigns, such as the one we carry out with the Ecomar Foundation, and which have a great public reception."