Call2Recycle Collects 7M Pounds of Rechargeable Batteries
Call2Recycle, the nation’s most comprehensive rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling solution, recently reported a 9.6 percent increase in its collection of rechargeable batteries over last year. Equivalent to the weight of approximately 163 school buses, the organization recycled 6.9 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2008.
Administered by the RBRC, Call2Recycle provides a convenient way to collect used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products, such as:
-
Laptop computers - Cell phones
- Digital cameras
- Cordless power tools
- PDAs
- MP3 players
- Two-way radios
“Many factors contributed to this year’s success, including new partnerships and the expansion of our collection program to include a new battery chemistry. But more than anything, continuous support and ongoing involvement from our retail, consumer and community partners has helped us grow our collection efforts year over year,” said Carl Smith, CEO, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). “Particularly as more attention is paid to the disposal of electronic waste, the Call2Recycle solution stands out as a viable means of handling rechargeable battery disposal.”
Call2Recycle noted a number of factors in their success, including:
- Earth911.com – Call2Recycle partnered with Earth911.com, reaching out to the site’s readership to raise awareness for rechargeable battery recycling. Battery recycling was the site’s top search term in 2008, underscoring the importance of extending the reach of Call2Recycle via another like-minded environmental organization.
- Program Expansion – For the first time in seven years, Call2Recycle expanded its rechargeable battery collection program to encompass Nickel Zinc (Ni-Zn) batteries.
- Sony – Call2Recycle furthered rechargeable battery recycling awareness and encouraged consumer participation by bundling individual battery collection bags with each custom, built-to-order Sony VAIO notebook, making it easier for consumers to recycle the rechargeable batteries in the old laptop computers they replace.
- DeWalt – During DeWalt’s “National Power Tool Battery Recycling Month” in October, consumers who recycled any power tool battery at one of its 87 service centers received a $10 discount on battery purchases.
- Ritz Camera – Call2Recycle collection boxes are now placed in more than 140 Ritz Camera stores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon.
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS) – Approximately 500 USFS offices enrolled (and by extension their local communities) in the program.
