AlES: give battery a second life
In a world where environmental problems are becoming more and more acute, even small steps make a huge difference. Let’s agree: it is hard to imagine that one discarded battery can poison 20 square meters of soil or 400 liters of water. And now multiply it by thousands… That is why for several years AlES JSC has been giving a ‘second life’ to hazardous waste and waste paper, turning environmental actions into a real contribution to nature protection.
Figures that inspire. At the end of 2024, AlES summarized the results of the annual campaign “A Battery a Second Life”. The result is impressive: – 94.1 kilograms of used batteries – that’s almost 100 kilograms of hazardous waste that was sent for safe disposal instead of landfills. Employees of CHPP-1 named after B.Orazbayev collected 3.1 kg of batteries, at CHPP-3 – 5 kg, Cascade HPP – 14 kg, Kapshagai HPP named after Sh.Chokin – 16 kg, PRP “Energoremont” – 2 kg and head office – 20 kg. The best collectors were workers of CHPP-2 named after A.Zhakutov, who collected 34 kg of batteries.
These figures are not just statistics. They are proof that a systematic approach and involvement of each employee can change the world for the better.
The campaigns at AlES JSC are not a one-time event, but a part of the corporate culture. For several years now, the company’s employees have been consciously sorting waste, participating in waste collections and involving colleagues. “For us, these are not just environmental initiatives – this is a step towards forming a new mindset”, notes Zoya Arzyukova, Head of the Environmental Protection Department. – We learn to see valuable raw materials in “rubbish”, and in our actions – responsibility before the future generations”.
AlES employees support the campaigns with enthusiasm: they bring batteries from home, collect them in separate containers, and some even organize family “eco- contests”. At first it seemed that my contribution was just a drop in the ocean, says Elena Davydova, an environmental engineer at B.Orazbayev CHPP-1. – But when you see the overall results, you realize: together we can really do a lot.
Why is it important? Batteries contain heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), which, once in landfills, can poison soil and groundwater. Recycling allows extracting useful components for production of new goods. AlES JSC does not stop at what has been achieved. It plans to expand the campaign: installation of additional containers, educational events for employees. “Our goal is for separate collection to become as much a routine as morning coffee”, says Elena Silvestrova, chief specialist of the Environmental Protection Department, and we believe that our role model will inspire other organizations”.
94.1kg of batteries is not just a number. It is thousands of saved animals, dozens of pure rivers. AlES JSC proves that corporate social responsibility is not an abstract concept, but a daily work that starts from a small level. And if every company, every person takes the same step, our planet will have not a second, but an infinite life.
Join us! After all, even one battery recycled is an investment in the future, which we are creating today.