How to Recycle Batteries

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) is a non-profit, public service organization created to promote the recycling of portable rechargeable batteries and cellular phones. RBRC’s Call2Recycle program collects used cellular phones to benefit the environment and charitable organizations. With the help of consumers and their 30,000 participating retail locations, such as Cingular, ALLTEL, Radio Shack, Target, Sears, and Best Buy, they are helping to keep portable rechargeable batteries and cellular phones out of the landfills.

Why should I recycle my old cellular phone?

A recent report by INFORM, Inc. estimates that by 2005, about 175 million cell phones will be in use in the U.S., and over 100 million cell phones will be retired each year. Instead of throwing away these used cell phones and spent rechargeable batteries, it's much better to recycle them. You'll help preserve natural resources and keep discarded products out of landfills.

How can I participate?

1. Go through your drawers and closets and find all those old cell phones that you have lying around that are no longer being used.

2. Log onto www.call2recycle.org or call 1-877-2-RECYCLE to find a participating retailer where you can drop off your old cell phones and rechargeable batteries.

3. After you drop off your cell phones and rechargeable batteries, the store will ship them to a recycling and refurbishing facility.

4. The cell phones are either refurbished for reuse or recycled in an environmentally sound manner.

5. The rechargeable batteries that power the cell phones are sent to a state-of-the-art facility where they are recycled to reclaim reusable materials that are used in stainless steel production (nickel and iron) and to make new batteries (cadmium).

For more information on recycling, go to PCU Waste Recycling.htm