Consumer battery stewardship organization Call2Recycle, Inc., collected nearly 12 million pounds of batteries and cellphones through its network in the US and Canada in 2014, increasing its total weight of material collected in 2014 for an 18th consecutive year, the company says.
The provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec all recorded double digit collection growth numbers over 2013. In the US, California led the collections, gathering over 1 million pounds of batteries in 2014. Gains in the US were propelled by collections taking place in conjunction with municipalities, along with successful national retail partnerships. Among businesses, the manufacturing industry led the charge. Call2Recycle says industry stewards participation (those who fund the program but also participate as collectors) were key drivers of growth in this segment.
Call2Recycle ensures that batteries and cellphones, which can contain valuable resources, are responsibly recycled to create new batteries and other products.
Call2Recycle says approximately ninety percent of both US and Canadian residents live within 10 miles of one of Call2Recycle’s 34,000 drop-off locations.
Last month, Call2Recycle announced that its battery and cellphone recycling program has diverted 100 million pounds from landfills since 1994.