Residents of the Vitebsk region have handed over almost 700 kg of used batteries for disposal

March 21, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Residents of the Vitebsk region have joined the campaign for the disposal of used batteries and have collected 697 kg of unusable power sources, Maria Oleneva, chief specialist of the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, told a BELTA correspondent. A collection system for all types of batteries has been created in accordance with the state program for the collection (procurement) and processing of secondary raw materials for 2009-2015. Specialized containers are installed at enterprises that sell power sources to the public. For example, in Vitebsk, such containers are available in 9 large stores, in Orsha - in 5, in Polotsk and Novopolotsk, used batteries can be sent for disposal at 14 retail outlets. In district centers, containers are usually located in department stores, "Promtovary" (consumer goods) stores, and "Kulttovary" (cultural goods) stores. A total of 109 containers for the collection of used power sources have been installed throughout the Vitebsk region. After the containers are filled, the batteries are transferred to "Belresursy" for neutralization and disposal. According to monitoring data, which concluded on March 20, 697 kg of batteries were collected for disposal in the region, of which 298 kg were sent for storage to OJSC "Vitebskoblrersursy". The Regional Committee for Natural Resources continues an active educational campaign among the population aimed at the proper collection and disposal of power sources. As Maria Oleneva explained, used batteries eventually turn into toxic waste, as they contain heavy metals: lead, cadmium, nickel, and zinc. One AA battery, if it gets into the environment, can contaminate 1 cubic meter of soil or 400 liters of water. -0-