Call2Recycle Canada Collects 1.7 Million Kilograms of Used Batteries in 2013; Surpasses 6 Million Kilograms Since Inception
TORONTO (November 4, 2013) – Call2Recycle®—North America’s first and largest battery stewardship program—today announced it has set a new program record by collecting 1.7 million kilograms of used batteries in Canada so far this year. This reflects an increase of 27% from what was collected in all of 2012, with two months still remaining in the calendar year. The milestone marks the largest amount the organization has recycled in one-year since its program launched in Canada in 1997.
The collection increase can be attributed to significant municipality and retail participation, especially in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec, which selected Call2Recycle to run its mandated household battery stewardship programs. To date, battery collection growth is 3.5 times greater in the mandated provinces compared to the non-mandated provinces. In fact, Call2Recycle’s efforts in the three mandated provinces have increased collections more than 87% collectively over last year.
“We are extremely pleased at the collection results in Canada this year, especially in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec,” said Joe Zenobio, Executive Director for Call2Recycle Canada, a non-profit organization funded by more than 200 industry partners and serving Canada from coast to coast. “By offering a comprehensive and flexible recycling solution for both rechargeable and alkaline batteries, we are winning in the effort to make it easier for Canadians to recycle their batteries. That’s a tribute not only to Call2Recycle, but to all of our dedicated collection partners.”
For more than 16 years, Call2Recycle Canada has been collaborating with its network of thousands of retailers and municipalities to make responsible collection and recycling of batteries free and easy. Call2Recycle credits strong, collaborative relationships with environmentally committed Canadian municipalities and retailers, including The Home Depot, London Drugs, The Source, Staples and Rona, as a source of success. In Ontario alone, collections from the retail channel have skyrocketed by 87% year to date.
“The growth we are seeing from our collection partners is a result of our cooperative efforts to increase consumer awareness,” said Zenobio. “Working together with our dedicated partners, Call2Recycle is able to drive consumers to thousands of accessible drop-off locations across Canada. In fact, over 90% of Canadian residents live within 15-kilometers from a Call2Recycle collection location.”
ShareNOV