RBRC Recognizes City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles’ General Services Department has been recognized  by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries, with the 2007 “National Recycling Leadership Award” for its efforts in rechargeable battery recycling. The award was presented May 9 to Karen Higgins, manager, City Facilities Recycling Program, General Services Department, and to council member Jan Perry, Council District 9, and council member Greig Smith, Council District 12.

Since joining the RBRC program in 2005, the city has collected more than 39,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries through the Call2Recycle program, with more than 15,500 pounds collected in 2006 alone. The City of Los Angeles Department of General Services promotes recycling and waste minimization to all city departments, which include approximately 40,000 employees at more than 600 facilities using strategically placed RBRC collection boxes in the lobbies of select city buildings; RBRC collection boxes available to all city departments using rechargeable batteries; centralized collection of all Los Angeles Police and Fire Department rechargeable batteries from radios, cellular telephones and other equipment as provided by the City’s Information Technology Agency; “RecycLetter” newsletter distributed via e-mail to all city departments as well as e-mail memos to the recycling coordinator in each department; RBRC posters prominently displayed in City Hall South and RBRC flyers in select city hall buildings; and annual recycling coordinator training sessions

“Not only are the recycling efforts of the city of Los Angeles commendable, but the efforts put forth to educate residents and city employees about the importance of rechargeable battery recycling are enormous as well,” Linda Gabor, director of marketing and media relations, RBRC, says. “It is this kind of dedication that aids in the success of RBRC and our mission.”

The RBRC Recycling Leadership Awards recognizes outstanding Call2Recycle participants each year for their exceptional efforts in rechargeable battery recycling. The awards are divided into regional and national categories, with four U.S. regional award winners and two national award winners (one from the United States and one from Canada).

RBRC’s Call2Recycle program is available to communities and public agencies without any associated fees. There are currently more than 6,000 communities and public agencies enrolled in the program in the U.S. and Canada. For more information on implementing a recycling program, contact RBRC toll free at 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.