Call2Recycle US > About Us > About Call2Recycle® > Recycling Your Rechargeable Batteries and Cell Phones

About Call2Recycle^®

Call2Recycle^® is the only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program in North America. Since 1994, Call2Recycle has diverted over 50 million pounds of rechargeable batteries from the solid waste stream and established a network of 30,000 collection sites. Advancing green business practices and environmental sustainability, Call2Recycle is the most active voice promoting eco-safe reclamation and recycling of rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Call2Recycle is operated by the non-profit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC).

Program Funding
Call2Recycle is funded by product manufacturers across the globe committed to environmentally-sound recycling of rechargeable batteries and cell phones. These manufacturers, representing 90% of the rechargeable power industry, place the RBRC recycling seal on their rechargeable products and batteries, letting users know that the batteries need to be recycled rather than thrown in the trash.

Business Participants
Call2Recycle's business participants use rechargeable products in the field and in their offices everyday. They set up Call2Recycle collection boxes to recycle the resulting waste.

Community & Public Agency Participants
Call2Recycle helps community and public agency participants incorporate battery and cell phone recycling into their existing recycling infrastructure.

Retail Participants
Call2Recycle's retail partners provide easy access for customers to drop off their used batteries and cell phones for recycling. Participating retailers include (in the U.S.): AT&T, Best Buy, Black & Decker, DeWalt, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Milwaukee Electric Tool, Office Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware, Porter-Cable Service Centers, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless.

Participating retailers in Canada: Batteries Experts, Battery Plus, Bell World, Black & Decker, Canadian Tire, FIDO, Future Shop, The Home Depot, Home Hardware, London Drugs, Personal Edge/Centre du Rasoir, Sears, The Sony Store, The Source by Circuit City, Staples, Telus Mobility, and Zellers.

Government Support
In May 1996, Congress enacted Federal legislation known as the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act. This Act streamlines state regulatory requirements for collecting Ni-Cd batteries and encourages voluntary industry programs to recycle them. The RBRC program has received recognition, endorsements, and awards from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Keep America Beautiful, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, and The Home Depot. The RBRC Battery Recycling Seal has been certified by the U.S. EPA.

Federal and State Recycling Laws
Federal, state and provincial regulations govern the proper disposal of rechargeable batteries and cell phones. Call2Recycle is named in official legislation as the collection method for eco-safe rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling.

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