It’s Official: More Portable Rechargeable Batteries Can Now Be Recycled; RBRC Broadens Its Recycling Program
LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2001 – The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) announced today that its rechargeable battery recycling program — Charge Up to Recycle! — is expanding to recycle all portable rechargeable battery chemistries, effective this month.
The move comes after extensive research showed that many of RBRC Licensee companies, which include more than 300 manufacturers and marketers of portable rechargeable batteries and products, would support an expansion from RBRC’s Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) rechargeable battery-only operation to a comprehensive rechargeable battery recycling program.
Later this month, RBRC’s Charge Up to Recycle! program will begin collecting Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), and Small Sealed Lead (Pb)* rechargeable batteries for recycling. By doing so, RBRC broadens the list of wireless products powered by recyclable rechargeable batteries and strengthens its call-to-action message.
“Our battery recycling message is now very simple: ‘If you can recharge it, you can recycle it,’” said C. Norman England, RBRC President and CEO. “Over the past several years, we have been working towards a goal of recycling all rechargeable battery chemistries. Now that our program’s expansion is official, we can further our mission to keep rechargeable batteries out of landfills.”
RBRC Expands Recycling Program/2 of 2
RBRC is a non-profit organization located in Atlanta. The organization was created with the mission to raise public awareness of rechargeable battery recycling and to implement recycling programs where none exist. RBRC created the Charge Up to Recycle! Program to recycle Ni-Cd batteries, the most common type of portable rechargeable battery.
Today, there are more than 30,000 retail and community battery collection locations throughout the U.S. and Canada participating in the Charge Up to Recycle! program. RBRC will use this existing structure to collect and recycle the additional rechargeable battery chemistries.
Consumers can find the nearest drop-off location by going online at www.rbrc.org or by calling 1-800-8-BATTERY. National U.S. retail stores participating in the program include: Ameritech, Batteries Plus, BellSouth Cellular, Black & Decker, Cellular One, Circuit City, GTE Wireless, Orchard Supply, RadioShack, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, and Wireless Zone. National Canadian retail stores include: Astral Photo Images, Authorized Motorola Dealers, Battery Plus, Black’s Photography, Canadian Tire, Future Shop, Home Hardware, London Drugs, Makita Factory Service Centers, Personal Edge/Centre du Rasior, RadioShack, Revy, and Zellers.
* less than 2 lbs. or 1 kg.
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About Call2Recycle®
Call2Recycle is the industry’s first and only product stewardship program for rechargeable batteries. The nonprofit program is administered by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a public service organization dedicated to rechargeable battery recycling. There are more than 30,000 Call2Recycle drop-off locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. More than 175 manufacturers and marketers of portable rechargeable batteries and products show their commitment to conserve natural resources and prevent rechargeable batteries from entering the solid waste stream by funding the Call2Recycle program. In pursuit of its mission, Call2Recycle also collects old cellphones, which are either recycled or refurbished and resold when possible with a portion of the proceeds benefiting select charities. For more information, call 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.
JAN