Companies Announce Results of Battery Recycling Study

Call2Recycle, a rechargeable battery recycling company, and the non-profit Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) have released the results of a study on battery recycling metrics titled “Battery Performance Metrics: Recommendations for Best Practice.” The study examines different ways that stewardship performance is gauged and offers guidance that policymakers, manufacturers and program participants can use to evaluate and strengthen battery collection initiatives, according to a joint company press release.

 According to the release, the variety of methods used by governments and businesses to calculate collection and participation rates in battery recycling programs result in discrepancies in reported metrics and the perceived success of the programs.

 “Our collection program has earned substantial recognition from municipalities, retailers and consumers alike, yet we still seek measures to help us continually improve our program and fulfill our mission to protect the environment,” says Carl Smith, president and CEO of RBRC, which operates Call2Recycle. “Our goal is to influence stakeholders to agree on a set of appropriate performance metrics and establish processes that will standardize measurement for many organizations committed to collecting and recycling products.”

 “Measuring performance is critical to collecting and recycling more batteries,” says Scott Cassel, executive director of PSI. “This study is meant to motivate all key stakeholders to reach a consensus on performance measures with an emphasis on a collection rate target supported by convenience measures, per capita collection rates and wider sustainability metrics.”

 Call2Recycle and PSI say they support the assembly of an advisory panel of experts to research, discuss and seek consensus on measuring performance, setting performance goals, and maximizing battery collection and recycling. The Battery Performance Metrics report is available at: http://www.call2recycle.org/doc_lib/Battery%20Performance%20Metrics.pdf.