On March 21, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Residents of the Vitebsk region have joined the campaign for the disposal of used batteries, collecting 697 kg of unusable power sources, as reported to BELTA by Maria Oleneva, chief specialist of the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The waste collection system for all types of batteries has been established in accordance with the state program for the collection (procurement) and processing of secondary raw materials for 2009-2015. Specialised containers have been installed at enterprises that sell power sources to the public. For example, in Vitebsk, such containers are available in 9 large shops, in Orsha - in 5, and in Polotsk and Novopolotsk, used batteries can be sent for disposal at 14 retail outlets. In district centres, containers are usually located in department stores, "Promtovary" (consumer goods) stores, and "Kulttovary" (cultural goods) stores. In total, 109 containers for the collection of used power sources have been installed throughout the Vitebsk region. Once the containers are full, the batteries are handed over 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 stored at OJSC "Vitebskoblrersursy". The Regional Committee for Natural Resources continues an active awareness 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 released into the environment, can contaminate 1 cubic metre of soil or 400 litres of water. -0-

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