THREE locals have scoured the region to collect more than 30 tonnes of used batteries as part of an unprecedented battery drive to raise money for the local hospice effort.
Peter Elford, Bill Wardle and Peter Jager, known affectionately within the community as the “good old boys”, have so far collected around 1280 battery packs from 70 different farms and properties around the district, altogether weighing 32 tonnes, and are still on the move for more.
The trio have taken to Balranald, Koolonong, Manangatang, Piangil, Nyah, Nyah West, Koraleigh and Goodnight, among other areas, to find the batteries and say their sights are set on Swan Hill and Lake Boga for more.
Working with Murray Mallee Machinery, the men have delivered the batteries to the company’s Murray Downs metal scrap recycling center, BT Recycling.
Murray Mallee Machinery’s Daniel Jennings said the battery drive was the biggest the recycling center had ever seen.
“No one else has rounded up that many batteries,” Mr Jennings said.
“The record here is 15 tonnes, but they’ve gotten 32 in two weeks and they’re still not finished.
“They’re three blokes in their seventies and they’re carting it three tonne at a time in the back of a trailer.”
For more on this story, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (July 29).
