Faro firefighters collected 131 tons of batteries and electrical equipment for recycling

The 14 humanitarian associations of volunteer firefighters in the district of Faro, who participated in the 8th edition of Quartel Electrão, which took place throughout 2023, collected a total of 131 tons of used batteries, batteries, lamps and other electrical equipment that were sent for recycling .

For this contribution to the environmental cause, the district’s associations receive more than 11 thousand euros in prizes.

The Humanitarian Association of Firefighters of Vila Real de Santo António, which guaranteed 60 tons for the campaign, was awarded the South Regional Award (which encompasses the districts of Beja and Faro). Regional prize winners receive 750 euros in prepaid fuel cards.

The initiative, dedicated to the collection of used batteries, batteries and electrical equipment, launched by Electrão – Waste Management Association, has as a partner the League of Portuguese Firefighters and already has 12 years of history.

The financial contributions given to participating associations are a way of rewarding firefighters for their commitment and dedication in collecting used batteries, lamps and electrical equipment, which are subsequently sent for recycling by Electrão.

For each ton collected, associations receive financial compensation of 75 euros, but several other prizes are awarded. The main thing is a new firefighting vehicle, for the association that collects the most waste nationally. This year the first prize was awarded to the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters of Figueira da Foz. There is also a second prize worth five thousand euros in personal protective equipment, six regional prizes, prizes for associations that collect the most batteries and light bulbs and a prize for the new participating barracks that stands out most in the collections. There is also an extra financial incentive to reward associations that collected more than 30, 45 and 60 tons.

The national results

At national level, the 8th edition of Quartel Electrão records a record amount of support for firefighters: there are, in total, around 270 thousand euros in prizes to be awarded to firefighters associations that, last year, joined this campaign.

The value for the 2023 edition was achieved thanks to the efforts of 201 firefighters associations across the country, who were involved in this mission and managed to raise awareness and mobilize the population and companies about the importance of separating and correctly sending this waste for recycling.

This effort carried out as a community, to benefit an environmental cause, but also a social one, as it supports firefighters, resulted in the collection of 2,300 tons of equipment, nationally, more specifically, 11 tons of batteries, 26 tons of lamps and 2,258 tons of used electrical equipment.

This is, once again, a very relevant performance for the global results of the Electrão Network, which in 2023 exceeded 20 thousand tons of used electrical equipment collected and sent for recycling. “Firefighters delivered the equivalent of 12% of the quantities collected by Electrão through its own collection networkwhich represents a very important contribution to the global results achieved”, praises the general director of Electrão, Ricardo Furtado.

“Increasingly, volunteer firefighters are an agent of environmental protection across the board, whether through the work they carry out to protect the population and forests, or by raising awareness about the recycling of batteries, batteries, lamps and used electrical equipment, many of which of which contain dangerous elements that, if not correctly treated, negatively impact the environment and human health. All these missions are interrelated”, he reinforces.

“The Eletrão Barracks is an initiative that the Firefighters of Portugal have always been associated with with enormous satisfaction and pride. If, on the one hand, it is another initiative that allows them to seek support to support their mission to help, on the other hand, it is a demonstration of the assumption of environmental responsibility that they have as simple citizens. These two aspects allow us to accentuate, value and desire the continuity of the Eletrão Barracks”, highlights the president of the League of Portuguese Firefighters, António Nunes.

The 9th edition of Quartel Electrão has already started, in January this year, and ends on November 30th. Humanitarian associations from across the country will have the opportunity to continue their work supporting the community and protecting the environment while also being able to win prizes.

On the website www.ondereciclar.pt it is possible to locate the nearest participating station to deliver batteries, batteries, lamps and other used electrical equipment.

Electron