OSBRC Makes Donation to SickKids Foundation!
June 20, 2017
Front row left image - Kate of Springfield PS, Brayden and Madelyn of St. Anthony Catholic French Immersion. Back row - Mike Kersley of Raw Materials Company and Brianne Fodey of SickKids
Toronto, ON – On June 21st, a delegation from the Ontario Schools Battery Recycling Challenge (OSBRC) traveled to The Hospital for Sick Children to make a donation to the SickKids Foundation on behalf of all OSBRC participants.
In its third year, the OSBRC reached 70,000 students and together they recycled more than 1.2 million batteries! An 18% increase over the number of batteries recycled from the same number of students last year. A provincial prize pool awarded the top three schools in the province with a portion reserved for the SickKids Foundation. To date, OSBRC students have raised more than $5,500 for SickKids.
In addition to the OSBRC donation earlier today, 2nd place winners Sprinfield Public School graciously donated a share of its winnings to the Foundation as well.
“With our winning cheque this year, we have decided to donate $1000 to the SickKids Foundation in Toronto to assist Raw Materials Company Inc. in their venture of supporting this foundation," said Sheri Webb, Secretary at Sprinfield Public School.
“SickKids would like to thank everyone involved with the OSBRC for their steadfast support of children’s health, all while promoting the importance of recycling in today’s youth,” said Brianne Fodey, Community Events Coordinator at the SickKids Foundation.
Since 2015, schools participating in the Ontario Schools Battery Recycling Challenge have recycled more than 3 million used household batteries. 100% of the alkaline batteries collected are recycled and nothing is sent to the landfill. Recycling displaces the need to mine for the equivalent amount of raw materials from ore, a major cause of green house gas emissions.
“It’s fascinating to see how enthusiastic these kids are about recycling and philanthropy,” said James Ewles, President of Raw Materials Company. “The donation to the SickKids Foundation is something that students suggested in the first year and it’s been something that all of us can really get behind.”
The OSBRC is a provincial recycling competition between elementary and secondary schools put on by Raw Materials Company of Port Colborne, Ontario. The purpose of the challenge is to teach students and their families how to properly handle and store batteries and how to prepare them for recycling. The OSBRC offers many free resources for educators and there is no cost for a school to participate.
Elementary and secondary schools in the Province of Ontario are eligible to participate in the Challenge. Registration begins in September and the Challenge officially launches during Waste Reduction Week in October. For more information, please visit www.rawmaterials.com
Did you know?
Lead-acid batteries are the oldest rechargeable batteries still in use today. In Canada, over 98% of all Lead-acid batteries are recovered for recycling.
Find out more about our technology and how together we are turning waste into a valuable resource.