?Battery Check Day? Urges Consumers to Recharge…Or Recycle

New Survey Shows Consumers Don’t Know What to Do with Used Rechargeable Batteries

LOS ANGELES, May 26, 1999 – When most people think of recycling, they don’t think of Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) rechargeable batteries. A recent survey found that consumers are throwing their rechargeable batteries away (40%) or leaving them in the dark recesses of their desk drawers at home or the office – unaware that Ni-Cd batteries can and should be recycled. According to the survey, consumers have an average of five dead rechargeable batteries lying around the house.

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) is on a campaign to change consumers’ battery habits. On May 27, 1999, RBRC launches “Battery Check Day,” an international environmental initiative to encourage consumers to search their homes, offices and garages for Ni-Cd batteries that either need recharging or recycling. Ni-Cd batteries power everything from cordless and cellular phones to power tools to camcorders.

“Most people don’t know what to do with those used Ni-Cd batteries in their desk drawer or those left in products because they no longer hold a charge,” said Ralph Millard, Executive Vice President of RBRC. “Through Battery Check Day, we hope to show consumers that they can help protect the environment and avoid a mishap because they forgot to recharge the camcorder battery before their vacation.”

Consumers with used Ni-Cd batteries simply call 1-800-8-BATTERY or go online at www.rbrc.org to find the nearest retail site or recycling center among the 25,000 participating in Battery Check Day nationwide. National retailers participating include ACE Hardware, Ameritech, Batteries Plus, BellSouth Cellular, BLACK&DECKER, Car Phone Store, Cellular One, Circuit City, RadioShack, Sears, Target, and WAL-MART.

America’s favorite tool guy, Richard Karn, who plays “Al” from TV’s Home Improvement, will help kick-off Battery Check Day in Los Angeles on May 26, 1999. In addition to media interviews, Karn will participate in an AOL-hosted online chat at 6 PM (EST) on Wednesday, May 26th to introduce RBRC’s new website, at www.rbrc.org.

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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.

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