Dive Brief:
- Battery Solutions and Call2Recycle are entering a partnership where Battery Solutions will sort batteries that Call2Recycle will collect nationwide, adding to the tens of millions of pounds both organizations already collect annually.
- The two organizations say they have plans in place for a seamless operation; their processes are integrated and Call2Recycle’s collection containers are beginning to be sorted by Battery Solutions’ locations in Howell, MI and Mesa, AZ.
- Battery Solutions offers end-to-end life cycle management throughout North America, focused specifically on environmental and regulatory compliance, documentation, safety, logistics, reporting, and converting materials. The company recently added automated sorting technology to sort batteries by chemistry. Call2Recycle, the first and largest consumer battery stewardship program, collects and recycles batteries for retailers, municipalities, businesses and consumers through nearly 30,000 collection sites.
Dive Insight:
Safe battery recycling of both consumer batteries and lead batteries is a major industry focus. Dangerous toxic metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium can be separated from other battery parts and processed for reuse, though it must be done properly to avoid soil and water contamination. Businesses are joining the effort to prevent hazardous waste with programs such as Call2Recycle, and local councils and authorities have partnered with battery manufacturers to develop recycling plans.
As it looked for a new partner, Call2Recycle invested in an extensive evaluation process scrutinizing proposals, and the organization’s CEO and President Carl Smith said “[We] selected Battery Solutions as part of our service provider network as we share the same vision of expanding battery recycling while exceeding the highest industry standards for efficiency."
"It is a natural step for Call2Recycle and Battery Solutions to join forces …" said Thomas Bjarnemark, CEO of Battery Solutions, as reported in Recycling Today. "We are excited to add the estimated 7 million pounds of batteries Call2Recycle anticipates collecting in 2016."
