Ecobat
About this good practice
Ecocheese is one of Ecobat's projects. It is a free collection box for used batteries that anyone can order for their home. The box is made of recycled cardboard and has an attractive design so it fits into any interior.
With Ecocheese, sorting batteries is a breeze:
• You put the used batteries in the Ecocheese box.
• Once the box is full, you take it to the nearest collection yard or electronics shop.
• The batteries from the Ecocheese box will be recycled responsibly.
Why is it important to recycle batteries?
Batteries contain harmful substances that can pollute the environment. If batteries are thrown away in the regular trash, they end up in a landfill where these substances are released into the soil and air. Recycling batteries allows these substances to be captured and reused.
Resources needed
Generaly Ecobat is a specialised collective system in the Czech Republic, which is financed mainly by producers of products subject to the take-back system.
The production of these practical battery collection containers requires funds for material purchase, production and distribution.
Evidence of success
The Ecocheese project was launched in 2020 and has since become a great success. In its first year, more than 100,000 Ecocheese boxes were put into circulation and more than 10 tonnes of used batteries were collected.
The Ecocheese project won the Packaging of the Year award in 2021 in the category Packaging for organic products.
Potential for learning or transfer
1. Recycling education: the Ecocheese is a great tool to educate people about the importance of recycling batteries.
2. Potential application to other waste: a similar model could be applied to other types of recyclables such as pharmaceuticals, fluorescent lamps or small electronic equipment.
3. 4. Gamification of recycling: elements of gamification could be introduced into the Ecocheese programme, for example, collecting points for handing in batteries. This could increase people's motivation to recycle and create a healthy competition.
Overall, the Ecocheese project has the potential to become a model for other recycling and environmental responsibility programmes.
Ecobat plans to further develop the Ecocheese project in the future. Their goal is to make the Ecocheese box available in as many households in the Czech Republic as possible.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
