The 2025-2026 edition of the Battery Recycling Contest “le Concours de recyclage des piles” officially came to an end, marking an important milestone for the program: 10 years of environmental engagement across Quebec schools.
Organized in partnership with Environnement Jeunesse through the Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program, the challenge reached another record this year with 320 participating schools, CEGEPs, and vocational training centres–the highest participation rate since the competition began 10 years ago.
To mark the occasion, a prize ceremony was held in Marieville at the winning school in the presence of representatives from Environnement Jeunesse, Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!, the City of Marieville and École Monseigneur Euclide-Théberge.
This year, participating schools collected more than 26,880 kg of used batteries, bringing the total amount recovered since the launch of the contest in 2016 to more than 286,450 kg. That represents the equivalent weight of 40 elephants diverted from landfill sites thanks to the participation of students, schools, and local communities across Quebec.
To celebrate this 10th edition, a record amount of $18,950 in grants was awarded to 33 winning schools to support environmental initiatives. This year’s grand prize of $2,000 was awarded to École Monseigneur Euclide-Théberge after collecting 1,329 kg of batteries.
Beyond battery collection itself, the initiative also helps students better understand the importance of responsible waste management and the impact of circular economy practices. Batteries and battery-powered devices contain valuable materials that can be safely recovered and reused instead of ending up in landfills.
Many batteries can also contain materials that may become hazardous when improperly disposed of. Recycling them properly helps protect the environment while supporting the recovery of resources such as zinc, steel, and other reusable materials used in the manufacturing of new products.
Following the success of this year’s edition, the Concours de recyclage de piles will officially return in September 2026 for its 11th edition.
