Battery recycling increases

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling rechargeable batteries, announced on July 15 its collection data for the first six months of 2003, reporting that they collected two million pounds of rechargeable batteries a 30 percent increase for the same time period for 2002.

In addition, RBRC reported a 30 percent increase in program participation, adding 880 new collection sites. This brings the total number of businesses, communities and pubic agencies who take part in the RBRC program to over 3,700 in the U.S. and Canada.

Rechargeable batteries power an ever-growing list of cordless electronics products, including cellular and cordless phones, digital cameras, laptop computers, portable DVD and CD players, PDAs and cordless power tools.

Highlights from the first six months of 2003 include:

Addition of Staples to the RBRC program The rollout of the RBRC program in Staples stores in the U.S. marks the first time RBRC has joined forces with a national office supply retailer. With approximately 1,100 Staples stores in the U.S., the RBRC/Staples program adds to the over 30,000 sites throughout Canada and the U.S. that consumers can access to drop off their used rechargeable batteries.

No-cost public agency recycling program In January 2003, RBRC announced a no-cost program for public agencies. This means that any municipal, federal, state or local governmental agency, as well as public hospitals, police and fire departments, and military institutions that want to recycle rechargeable batteries can now do so for free. Since RBRC removed its program fees, nearly 500 public agencies have signed on an increase of 97 percent.

To find nearby battery drop-off locations, log-on to www.rbrc.org or call 1-800-8-BATTERY for a list of participating retailers and community collection sites.