The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a non-profit public
service organization dedicated to recycling rechargeable batteries and cell
phones, reported a twelve percent increase in collection numbers, with
more than 6.3 million pounds (2.8 million kilograms) of rechargeable batteries
recycled in the U.S. and
Canada through its
Call2Recycle™
program.
Call2Recycle,
the most
comprehensive nationwide rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling program,
provides a convenient way to collect and recycle old cell phones and used
rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products, such as cordless
power tools, two-way radios, cordless and cellular phones, laptop computers,
digital cameras and camcorders.
“We are proud to
report an increase in rechargeable battery collection numbers this year, which
is a true testament to the efforts and participation of our many retail,
consumer and community partners who have joined forces to further raise
awareness of rechargeable battery recycling,” said Doug Smith, Chairman of the
RBRC Board of Directors and Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs for Sony
Electronics. “Additional factors such as state and local legislation and
grassroots involvement have helped boost overall environmental awareness and
underscore the importance of rechargeable battery recycling.”
The
following are among the many efforts and activities that helped contribute to
the increase in collection numbers:
- Circuit
City Expanded
Recycling Campaign: Circuit
City became the first
retailer to expand upon the Call2Recycle program by introducing a new
consumer initiative that increases its participation in the program and further
educates consumers on the importance of protecting the environment. In addition to
regular Call2Recycle collection boxes
currently available in Circuit
City stores throughout the
U.S., Circuit
City also distributed
individual collection bags to all customers that made an online purchase.
- “New York City
Rechargeable Battery Law” (Local Law 97 of 2005): Legislation
went into effect on December 1, 2006, prohibiting the disposal of rechargeable
batteries as solid waste and requiring all New York City retailers that sell
rechargeable batteries and products that contain them to collect used
batteries. With more than 300 Call2Recycle locations in
New York City, RBRC was
named as the solution to help local retailers comply with the new law and offer
a means for consumers to drop off used rechargeable batteries free of
charge.
- New
Mexico Recycling
Awareness Month: Together with the New Mexico
Recycling Coalition and the City of Albuquerque, RBRC
supported a public awareness campaign during New Mexico Recycling Awareness
Month encouraging consumers to recycle their used rechargeable batteries and old
cell phones at Call2Recycle
locations throughout the Albuquerque area.
Since 2003, participating city agencies throughout Albuquerque have
successfully collected more than 6,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries through
Call2Recycle.
- Ten-Year Anniversary in
Canada: RBRC celebrated its
ten-year anniversary in Canada, where more than 7,000 collection locations
throughout the country participate in the Call2Recycle program, including major
retailers, community organizations and public agencies. Collection rates have
increased steadily year over year, with a total of more than two million pounds
(one million kilograms) of rechargeable batteries and cell phones collected over
the last ten years. In 2007, RBRC collected more than 500,000 pounds (229,000
kilograms) of rechargeable batteries, an increase of nine percent over last
year.
- Canadian
Participants’ Initiatives: RBRC, along with Program Ambassador
and hockey legend, Guy Lafleur, worked
with several partners across Canada to educate consumers,
retailers, businesses, communities and public agencies on the importance of
rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling.
In Montreal, RBRC celebrated the
recycling partnership of the City of Montreal and the Montreal Fire Department
who have organized collection sites at every fire station throughout the City to
enable residents to drop-of their used rechargeable batteries and cell phones at
locations close to home.
In Calgary, RBRC
presented the National Recycling Leadership Award to the Alberta Environment
Action on Waste team for their
coordination of a six-month call-to-action campaign that encouraged businesses,
communities and public agencies in Alberta to join
Call2Recycle. This campaign
resulted in the addition of 41 new collection locations that, together with
other locations in Alberta, collected
more than 33,446 pounds (15,203 kilograms) of rechargeable batteries during the
campaign period, an increase of 31 percent from the previous
year.
In Vancouver, RBRC
recognized its partnership success with London Drugs, whose stores serve as RBRC
collection locations throughout Western Canada.
For more
information or to find the nearest participating drop-off location, call
1-877-2-RECYCLE or go online at www.call2recycle.org.
