New, first-of-their-kind nationwide classroom lessons for teachers will help tackle Australia’s battery fire crisis.
The new suite of educational resources from one of Australia’s largest recyclers, Visy, were developed in partnership with Cool.org, to teach Australian students about the importance of safe battery disposal.
Suitable for students in the first year of school through to Year 10, they are free for all teachers and aligned with the Australian Curriculum.
"As Australia's use of battery-powered technology continues to grow, so does the challenge of managing battery waste safely," said Tierry Lauren, Executive General Manager of Recycling, Visy.
"Battery fires are one of the biggest risks to our staff and our sites. These lessons give young Australians the knowledge and skills to make informed choices when it comes to battery disposal."
Batteries power everything from remote controls and toys to electric vehicles and medical devices, but should never be disposed of in your household bins. When improperly disposed of, batteries pose a significant fire risk and can leach harmful chemicals into the environment.
The Australian Council of Recycling estimates there are around 10,000 battery fires a year across Australia’s waste and recycling systems. With millions of batteries being discarded each year, community education is a critical component of effective battery stewardship.
"Cool.org is thrilled to partner with Visy on these resources," said Mahnee Cook, Education Project Lead, Cool.org.
"Combining Visy's deep expertise in recycling and sustainability with Cool.org's experience in curriculum-linked education, these lessons bring real-world relevance to the classroom and empower students to be part of the solution."
All lesson materials are available for free at: https://cool.org/visy-recycling-education-resources
Resources can be used independently by classroom teachers or integrated into broader school sustainability programs. If you know a teacher, have kids at school, or are connected to a school community, please share these resources.
