Indonesia, Cinangka: Soccer field used as an old lead-battery dump now safe for children
Small scale, informal disposal of used acid-lead batteries contaminated the village of Cinangka. Locals dismantled car batteries in backyards, smelted the lead and dumped the remains at various locations. Soil contamination levels at a local football pitch (soccer field) were 500 times higher than the US safety limit. A project completed in April 2014 safely encapsulated the contaminated soil at the football pitch allowing children to safely use it again. This pilot project proved the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of this method, paving the way to similar, much-needed intervention at additional sites.
