Battery Recycling on the Rise in A Down Economy

Major Retailers Spur Call2Recycle’s 6.9 percent Growth in 2009

ATLANTA, February 11, 2010 – Call2Recycle®, the only free rechargeable battery and cellphone collection program in North America, today announced a 6.9 percent increase in overall collections, driven by major national retailers, municipalities and communities with a strong presence in the U.S. and Canada. Call2Recycle collected 6.1 million pounds (2.8 million kilograms) of rechargeable batteries in 2009.

The rise in battery collections is attributed to increased efforts by major retailers, including The Home Depot, Apple Computer, RadioShack, Lowe’s, Interstate All Battery Center and RONA. Together, these organizations collected 20 percent more batteries for recycling in 2009 than in 2008, despite a lingering recession. Retailers, communities and other businesses participate in the Call2Recycle program to support corporate sustainability initiatives that promote a commitment to environmental quality and an environmentally friendly workplace.

“Despite last year’s lower sales of batteries and the products that use them, we’re recycling more batteries than ever thanks to retailers that have embraced their role as environmental stewards,” said Carl Smith, president and CEO of RBRC, which operates Call2Recycle. “By using our recycling program to divert millions of pounds of solid waste from local landfills, businesses and consumers alike are making a statement that environmental sustainability is a priority, regardless of the economy.”

Rechargeable batteries are the power source in numerous electronic devices, including cellphones, digital cameras, laptops, power tools and more. A typical rechargeable battery is an eco-friendly power choice that can be recharged up to 1,000 times, but once they lose their charge, they should be recycled. For more information, visit Call2Recycle on Facebook or Wikipedia.

About Call2Recycle
Call2Recycle® is the only free rechargeable battery and cellphone collection program in North America. Since 1994, Call2Recycle has diverted more than 50 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.

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