Call2Recycle Inc., a consumer battery stewardship organization with headquarters in Atlanta and Toronto, has announced that its partners, stewards and collection sites recycled nearly 14 million pounds (6.3 million kilograms) of batteries throughout the U.S. and Canada in 2017.
To date, the program has recycled 144 million pounds (65 million kilograms) of batteries.
“These results contribute to Call2Recycle’s mission of keeping batteries out of landfills,” the organization says.
Call2Recycle says it seeks to promote battery recycling awareness and activism through its partnerships with industry stewards and collection partners, including municipalities and retailers. Several factors shaped the battery recycling landscape and collections efforts in 2017, including growth in primary battery recycling in the U.S., an increase in battery reuse and a rise in products with nonremovable batteries.
In the U.S., overall collections of rechargeable and primary batteries totaled 8 million pounds (3.6 million kilograms). New recycling options generated an increase in primary battery collections by more than 20 percent, Call2Recyle says. The program experienced growth in light of the introduction of a fee-based all-battery offering.
“To grow battery recycling, you need diligent partners, robust consumer efforts and an ongoing commitment to create change,” says Carl Smith, CEO and president of Call2Recycle. “Our industry stewards, collection partners and consumers continue to lead the charge on battery recycling, fueling innovation and momentum in the marketplace.”
Another contribution to the overall growth in battery recycling in 2017 is the state of Vermont, which was the first state in the U.S. to require producers to finance a collection and recycling program for single-use (primary) batteries. Consumers collected 81,000 pounds (36,700 kilograms) of batteries via the Call2Recycle program, which is the appointed stewardship organization for Vermont. Total battery collections in 2017 grew by 14 percent over last year in the state. Since Vermont’s program launch in 2016, more than 250,000 pounds (113,000 kilograms) of batteries have been recycled via drop-off sites across the state.
Canadian consumers collected 2.6 million kilograms (5.7 million pounds) of batteries in 2017, similar to collections in previous years. As the approved battery stewardship program in British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec, Call2Recycle says it also supports battery recycling across the country.
In 2017, Quebec led the charge in battery collections totaling more than 2.2 million pounds (1 million kilograms), with British Columbia collecting 1.3 million pounds (620,000 kilograms) and Manitoba collecting 202,000 pounds (92,000 kilograms).
“2017 included substantial investments in both consumer accessibility and awareness efforts across Canada,” says Joe Zenobio, president for Call2Recycle Canada Inc. “Through these investments and in partnership with our committed members and collection sites, we look forward to seeing collections grow in 2018.”
More than 86 percent of residents in the U.S. and Canada live within 10 miles (15 kilometers) of one of Call2Recycle’s public drop-off locations, the organization says.