We recently connected with Sri Nihal Tammana and have shared our conversation below.
Sri Nihal, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for Recycle My Battery when I was just 10 years old. It all started after I saw a news report about a fire at a waste disposal plant in California caused by improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries. The fire caused millions of dollars in damage, and I felt a strong need to do something about it. I realized how dangerous and harmful improper battery disposal can be for our environment.
I began researching and found out that over 15 billion batteries end up in landfills around the world every year, with 3 billion of those in the US alone. This was a huge problem because these batteries leak harmful chemicals into the soil and water, causing environmental damage. I knew then that I had to take action, and that’s when I came up with the idea for Recycle My Battery.
I believed this idea would work because I saw a problem that needed solving and knew that many people were not aware of how to dispose of batteries properly. My goal was to raise awareness and provide easy ways for people to recycle batteries. By educating people and making it convenient for them to recycle, I knew we could reduce the environmental damage caused by battery waste.
What excited me most about this idea was the potential to make a real difference. We were offering a unique approach by focusing on education and accessibility, two key things that were missing in the efforts to manage battery waste. By teaching people, especially kids, about the importance of recycling batteries and providing them with easy ways to do it, we could create a lasting impact.
Recycle My Battery quickly gained support from my friends and community. We organized battery drives, set up collection bins in schools and libraries, and launched outreach campaigns to spread the word. Seeing the positive response and knowing that we were helping to protect the environment kept me motivated and convinced that this was the right thing to do. Our initiative not only tackled a big environmental issue but also encouraged young people to become change-makers in their communities.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Sri Nihal Tammana, and I’m a 15-year-old founder of Recycle My Battery, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting proper battery disposal and recycling. I started this initiative when I was just 10 years old after learning about the dangers and environmental impacts of improperly discarded batteries. A news report about a fire at a waste disposal plant in California, caused by lithium-ion batteries, deeply moved me and inspired me to take action.
Recycle My Battery provides educational workshops, battery collection drives, and awareness campaigns aimed at educating the public, especially young people, about the importance of recycling batteries. We set up battery collection bins in schools, libraries, and community centers to make it easy for people to recycle their used batteries.
What sets Recycle My Battery apart from others is our focus on education and accessibility. We believe that by educating people, particularly the younger generation, and providing them with convenient recycling options, we can significantly reduce the environmental impact of battery waste. Our initiative also empowers kids to become environmental advocates in their communities.
One of the problems we solve is the improper disposal of batteries, which leads to soil and water pollution and poses fire risks. By providing education and easy recycling options, we help mitigate these issues and promote a cleaner environment.
I’m most proud of the impact we’ve made so far. With the help of over 650 passionate kids nationwide, we’ve recycled more than 485,000 used batteries directly and have indirectly influenced the recycling of over a million batteries. We have also educated over 35 million people about the importance of recycling batteries. Our achievements include breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest line of batteries and receiving several prestigious awards such as the International Children’s Peace Prize finalist, CNN Heroes Young Wonder Award, Diana Award, and personal recognition from President Joe Biden.
The main things I want potential supporters to know about Recycle My Battery are our commitment to environmental sustainability and our dedication to empowering the next generation of change-makers. We provide a platform for young people to take action and make a difference in their communities. Through our latest project, we are working on a prototype to recharge discarded single-use batteries, which could revolutionize battery recycling and make our initiative self-sustainable.
Recycle My Battery is not just about recycling batteries; it’s about inspiring others to join the movement and create a sustainable future together. If you are passionate about the environment and want to make a positive impact, we invite you to join us on this journey.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building an audience on social media for Recycle My Battery has been an incredible journey, and it all started with a small, passionate group of my friends. When I first began Recycle My Battery, I shared our mission and activities on my social media accounts. My friends, who were equally passionate about the environment, joined me and began sharing our posts.
This created a chain reaction. My friends’ friends saw their posts and wanted to get involved, and then their friends saw it, and so on. This organic growth was fueled by our shared commitment to making a difference and the compelling nature of our mission. We also made sure to use relevant hashtags like #RecycleMyBattery, #BatteryRecycling, #EnvironmentalSustainability, and #YouthForChange to reach a wider audience interested in environmental issues.
One key piece of advice I have for those just starting to build their social media presence is to stay authentic and passionate about your cause. Share your story and the reasons behind your initiative. People connect with genuine stories and missions. Also, engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages, and encourage them to share their experiences related to your cause.
Another important strategy is to collaborate with others. Partner with individuals, organizations, and influencers who share your vision. When they share your content, it helps you reach their audience as well. Hosting events, challenges, or campaigns that people can participate in and share on their own social media can also boost your visibility.
Finally, consistency is crucial. Regularly posting updates, sharing success stories, and highlighting the impact of your work keeps your audience engaged and informed. Remember, building a social media presence takes time, but with dedication and passion, you can create a strong and supportive community around your cause.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One important lesson I had to unlearn was that making a big impact requires a large team or substantial resources. Initially, I believed that to make a real difference in battery recycling and environmental sustainability, I needed a vast network of supporters and significant funding. This belief often made me hesitant to start new initiatives or pursue bigger goals.
The backstory to this unlearning process began when I started Recycle My Battery at the age of 10. I was inspired by a news report about a fire caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries. Determined to address this issue, I began small, focusing on educating my schoolmates and community about the importance of proper battery disposal. I didn’t have a large team or any funding, just a deep passion for the cause and a willingness to take action.
As I continued to spread awareness and organize battery drives, I realized that even small efforts could lead to significant change. My friends joined me, and soon, their friends joined too. It became clear that passion, dedication, and a clear message could inspire others to take action, regardless of the size of the initial team or resources.
This realization was reinforced when we broke the Guinness World Record for the longest line of batteries. It was a huge milestone achieved by the collective efforts of a dedicated but relatively small group of kids and community members. This experience taught me that you don’t need a large team or extensive resources to make a difference; what you need is a clear vision, persistence, and the ability to inspire others.
Unlearning this lesson has been empowering. It has encouraged me to pursue ambitious goals and take bold actions without being limited by the size of my team or available resources. It has also helped me focus on building a passionate community and leveraging the collective power of individuals committed to making a positive impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://recyclemybattery.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srinihaltammana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recyclemybattery
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recyclemybattery/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/srinihaltammana
