15-Year-Old Sri Nihal Tammana Leads Global Battery Recycling Movement

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At just 15 years old, Sri Nihal Tammana, a high school student from Monroe, New Jersey, is making waves around the world with his tireless commitment to battery recycling. His work is now being recognized internationally, including a recent feature in a German educational textbook published by Westermann Verlag. The textbook includes a lesson plan and classroom discussion questions designed to help students learn about battery waste, environmental hazards, and Nihal’s pioneering efforts to address these issues.

Sri Nihal’s journey began at the age of 10, when he saw a news report about a lithium-ion battery explosion at a waste disposal plant in California. This incident opened his eyes to the dangers of improperly disposed batteries, including toxic pollution, fire hazards, and long-term health risks. Motivated to take action, he founded Recycle My Battery (RMB), a nonprofit organization aimed at raising awareness and simplifying battery recycling through education and accessible solutions.

Over the past five years, Recycle My Battery has grown into a global movement. Nihal and his team have helped recycle more than 625,000 batteries, preventing hazardous waste from entering landfills. His awareness campaigns have reached more than 40 million people through school programs, corporate workshops, and global media coverage.

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Nihal, currently a student at Monroe Township High School, underscores the urgency of his mission. “Every year, close to 15 billion batteries are thrown in the trash globally. Most of these end up in landfills. This can cause catastrophic fires, pollute the environment with dangerous chemicals, and contribute significantly to climate change by emitting greenhouse gases,” he explains.

Beyond spreading awareness, Sri Nihal is actively working on innovative solutions. He co-launched The Residual Charge Project, a prototype approved by the University of Waterloo, which aims to repurpose unused battery energy for recycling plants. He also created a petition on Change.org urging battery manufacturers to fund recycling programs, which has already received over 3,000 signatures.

Nihal’s movement has attracted more than 900 youth volunteers and has expanded into over 30 schools. The initiative, known as The Battery Challenge, aims to recycle 300,000 batteries by the end of the year. To support these efforts, over 1,000 free battery collection bins have been distributed to schools, libraries, and businesses.

His remarkable work has earned widespread recognition. Sri Nihal and Recycle My Battery have received more than 75 national and international honors, including CNN Heroes Young Wonder, the Diana Award, the Barron Prize, and being named a top 3 finalist in the International Children’s Peace Prize. He has also been featured on major platforms such as CNN, BBC, and TEDx.

Australia is now preparing to partner with Recycle My Battery, with B-cycle working on placing battery collection bins in schools across the country, further extending the initiative’s global footprint.

Looking ahead, Sri Nihal envisions global expansion. “I want to expand RMB globally, ensuring that every school, community, and country has access to battery recycling solutions,” he says. “Through education, innovation, and advocacy, I aim to mobilize millions more changemakers and ensure a cleaner, safer planet for future generations—one battery at a time.”

Nihal aspires to study environmental science in college, with plans to invent an eco-friendly battery made from 100% safe materials. “It will be good for performance, the environment, and sustainability,” he says. “I want to use everything I learn in physics, chemistry, engineering, and environmental science to benefit the Earth.”

Sri Nihal Tammana serves as a powerful reminder that passion, perseverance, and action can drive meaningful change. He lives in Monroe, NJ, with his parents, Vamsi and Deepika, and younger sister Nithya, all of whom actively support the Recycle My Battery mission. He stands by his motto:

“If I can make Earth a better place to live, you can. If you can make Earth a better place to live, we all can.”

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