GAINESVILLE, December 7, 1998 – The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation’s (RBRC) nationwide battery recycling program for used Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries has won First Place in the Keep America Beautiful 1998 National Awards in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle category.
The award recognizes RBRC in developing and successfully implementing Charge Up to Recycle!, the only national recycling program for used Ni-Cd batteries. Financially supported by over 275 corporations in the rechargeable power industry through the licensing and use of the RBRC Battery Recycling Seal on their Ni-Cd batteries, RBRC’s Charge Up to Recycle! program provides easy access for households and businesses to Ni-Cd battery recycling.
“RBRC’s Charge Up to Recycle! program is a superb example of waste minimization in action,” said Raymond Empson, President, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. “Using Ni-Cd batteries reduces overall battery waste and is an excellent example of reuse. And now, thanks to the RBRC recycling program, Americans no longer have to throw out their used Ni-Cd batteries in the garbage but can recycle them instead.”
The RBRC Charge Up to Recycle! program has the support of over 25,000 retail stores and communities nationwide where consumers can drop off their used Ni-Cds for recycling. Participating retailers include: ACE Hardware, Ameritech, BellSouth Cellular, Black & Decker, Car Phone Store, Cellular One, Circuit City, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart. Consumers can find the locations nearest them by calling RBRC’s helpline, 1-800-8-BATTERY, or by visiting RBRC’s website at www.rbrc.org. All participating retail stores and communities ship their collected batteries to INMETCO (International Metals Reclamation Company), whose recycling process is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being the “best demonstrated available technology” to recycle Ni-Cd batteries.
“It is an honor that the efforts of RBRC are being recognized by Keep America Beautiful through this National award,” said Ralph Millard, Executive Vice President, RBRC. “The goal of RBRC is to divert 100% of used Ni-Cd batteries from the solid waste stream. Thanks to the involvement of our many supporters, including Keep America Beautiful, we hope to accomplish this objective.”
Charge Up to Recycle! is an international environmental program created to recycle Ni-Cd batteries, commonly used in consumer and business cordless products. The program is managed by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) of Gainesville, Florida. RBRC’s goal is to recycle small, sealed Ni-Cd batteries from households and businesses, thereby conserving the earth’s natural resources and preserving our environment. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) is a national, non-profit, public education organization with local affiliates, dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and environment in American communities and improving waste handling practices at the community level. KAB sponsors an annual National Awards Program to recognize outstanding environmental stewardship actions of citizen groups, businesses and public agencies.
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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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