Organization urges nation to continue rechargeable battery recycling efforts
ATLANTA, Oct. 6, 2010 – In July, Call2Recycle®, North America’s only free rechargeable battery and cellphone collection program, challenged Americans to divert 1 million pounds of rechargeable batteries from our nation’s landfills by Oct. 1, as part of its MyCall2Recycle awareness campaign. The numbers are in, and the country was successful, collecting 1.24 million pounds of rechargeable batteries during the campaign. The organization created the MyCall2Recycle campaign and its million pound goal in an effort to educate consumers and businesses across the country about the ongoing importance and ease of rechargeable battery recycling.
During the campaign, Call2Recycle embarked on a cross-country battery collection drive with stops in four major markets: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Diego. These markets also entered into a friendly competition to collect the most batteries between July 1 and Oct. 1. While residents in all four markets brought a significant amount of rechargeable batteries to Call2Recycle collection sites for recycling, Atlanta led the way by recycling more than 63,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries.
“We are proud of the enthusiasm consumers have shown for recycling rechargeable batteries and cellphones across America, helping us surpass our million pound goal,” said Carl Smith, president and CEO of Call2Recycle. “Though the campaign is over, our efforts to divert rechargeable batteries from local landfills are not. We want to remind consumers and businesses alike that recycling old rechargeable batteries helps preserve the environment by keeping valuable materials out of landfills.”
During the campaign Call2Recycle also hosted an online video contest to find out what inspires people to recycle. The answers came pouring in and ranged from creating a clean environment for kids and grandkids to making room for new gadgets. The organization crowned its contest winners, which can be viewed along with the videos at MyCall2Recycle.org.
Rechargeable batteries are a long-lasting, eco-friendly power source for many electronic devices, including laptops, cellphones, cordless phones, cordless power tools, digital cameras and more. They can be recycled year-round at any of Call2Recycle’s 30,000 collection sites throughout North America, including many locations of MyCall2Recycle campaign partners DeWALT Factory Service Center, Lowe’s, RadioShack and Staples.
About Call2Recycle®
Call2Recycle® is the only free rechargeable battery and cellphone collection program in North America. Since 1994, Call2Recycle has diverted more than 60 million pounds of rechargeable batteries from local landfills and established a network of 30,000 recycling drop-off locations. Advancing green business practices and environmental sustainability, Call2Recycle is the most active voice promoting eco-safe reclamation and recycling of rechargeable batteries and cellphones. Call2Recycle is operated by the non-profit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). Learn more at call2recycle.org or 877.2.RECYCLE. Become a follower or fan at twitter.com/call2recycle or facebook.com/call2recycle.
OCT