Power to the people

Eco mum Liz Dawson and her daughter Sophie (second from right) launch the batteries recycling scheme helped by Sophie's school friends at St. Mary's College and Lord Mayor of Hull Cllr David Gemmell.

A new battery recycling scheme is the latest way in which Hull residents can help the environment.
Under the scheme residents can take their old batteries to schools and most council buildings, including customer service centres and libraries, from where they'll be taken away and recycled.
"This is really important because of the heavy metals in batteries which can be extremely harmful if they end up in landfill," says Liz Smith, recycling officer at Hull City Council.
"If the heavy metals leak into the ground they can contribute to soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife."
Meanwhile, Hull's new eco family – The Dawsons – were on hand to launch the new scheme at St. Mary's College where daughter Sophie is in year seven.
And the Lord Mayor of Hull, Cllr David Gemmell presented them with vouchers and a trophy to mark their first engagement.
Sophie was the driving force behind persuading her mum Liz, dad Paul, and brothers Adam and Mark to enter the annual competition to find the family who is most committed to living a greener, more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
And Sophie's school friends helped launch the scheme and a competition through which schools that collect the highest number of batteries (as an average collected per pupil) will receive book tokens.
The scheme is being run by Hull City Council in partnership with Valpak, a national body which helps organisations develop recycling solutions.
For more information call 300 300 or visit www.hullcc.gov.uk.