Bapcor Group is raising money for Gumboot Friday by collecting scrap batteries for recycling, with 100% of the resulting proceeds going towards providing free counselling for young New Zealanders.

Bapcor Group includes BNT, HCB Technologies, Battery Town, Battery Town Marine, The Shock Shop and Autolign.

It is encouraging clients, customers, and the public to bring in as many old automotive and commercial batteries as they can for safe recycling, on and around Gumboot Friday, which is being held on 5 November.

“This is an awesome initiative particularly with Covid forcing event cancellations in Auckland, Northland and Waikato. Bapcor is not only helping reduce environmental waste by encouraging people to bring in their used batteries, but they are also helping our kids when they most need it by generously contributing 100% of the proceedings to Gumboot Friday,” said I AM HOPE founder Mike King.

“$1 per kilogram goes directly to free kids counselling and with truck batteries weighing up to 70 kilograms, this could potentially be huge for our kids and environment.”

Craig Fowler, business manager at HCB Technologies, said: “We’re committed to improving mental health awareness across the board so it’s great to play our part, and we have more 1000 amazing team members and licensees across more than 200 locations who are really getting behind the project.

“Gumboot Friday only happens once a year, but Kiwi kids need help all year round, especially at the moment,” he said.

“So, I hope everyone will make the effort to drop off their unwanted batteries at one of our outlets – the more the merrier!”