Contact Information: CONTACT: Briana Papa Crenshaw Communications 646-484-4573 briana@crenshawcomm.com www.crenshawcomm.com Linda Gabor Call2Recycle® 678-419-9990 Ext. 216 lgabor@rbrc.com www.call2recycle.org
Call2Recycle(R) Becomes First Battery Program to Be Recognized by Basel Action Network
North America's Most Comprehensive Rechargeable Battery Recycling Program Earns e-Stewards Qualification
| Source: Call2Recycle
ATLANTA, GA--(Marketwire - August 11, 2009) - Call2Recycle®, North America's
most successful rechargeable battery
recycling program, today announces that it has become the first program
of its kind to be recognized as an
e-Steward by the Basel Action Network
(BAN). This voluntary recognition affirms that Call2Recycle has completed BAN's
initial audit and qualification requirements and is now in line to become
one of the first independently audited, accredited and certified
electronics recyclers in North America. The e-Stewards designation is given
for electronics and battery recyclers that uphold the strictest standards
for environmental safety and social responsibility.
BAN, a toxic trade and corporate responsibility watchdog, is named for the
Basel Convention, an international treaty created to prevent the dumping of
toxic waste from rich to poorer nations. In 1995 the Basel Convention
passed a decision to prohibit the export of hazardous waste to developing
countries. As a global organization, BAN works to prevent the global
dumping of toxic e-waste that has become all too common today, and promotes
responsible recycling here in North America. Call2Recycle will join a
select group of e-Stewards recyclers whose collection and recycling process
have been recognized by BAN, assuring that no toxic e-waste collected by
these organizations is dumped in landfills or incinerators, exported to
developing countries or sent to prison labor operations.
"We believe that Call2Recycle meets and exceeds the highest environmental
standards in North America, but in an era of 'greenwashing' and misleading
claims, we also believe in the necessity of third-party certification of
our performance," said Carl Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Rechargeable
Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). "We are proud that our recycling
program has been recognized as an e-Steward solution for rechargeable
batteries. Consumers can be assured that the rechargeable batteries they
recycle with Call2Recycle are handled in a way that is best for the
environment and workers in all corners of the world."
According to BAN, only 12.5 percent of discarded electronics products in
the U.S. were collected for recycling in 2005, of which an estimated 80
percent was then exported to developing countries for processing. To
generate support for the mounting crisis, BAN continually reports on the
negative effect that the mismanagement and mishandling of e-waste has on
the environment and society, most recently teaming with PBS's "Frontline"
and CBS's "60 Minutes" news magazines to expose the deadly impacts of toxic
electronics recycling operations in China and in Africa. BAN also uses its
resources to create positive solutions, such as e-Stewards, and reward
industry organizations that have taken steps to ensure the soundness of
their waste management programs at all points in the process.
"We are thrilled to recognize Call2Recycle as an e-Steward," said BAN
Executive Director Jim Puckett. "That means they have already passed our
initial in-house audit program with flying colors and have agreed to be
audited and certified by an accredited certifying body next year to an even
more comprehensive standard. Call2Recycle has stepped forward to be among
the most conscientious companies in an industry in need of such
leadership."
All of the rechargeable batteries collected through the program are
recycled at various processing locations in North America and none of the
broken-down material makes its way into landfills. Cell phones collected
through the program are recycled or refurbished and resold when possible
with proceeds benefiting select charities. The transport and recycling of
used rechargeable batteries and cell phones collected through Call2Recycle
are in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Transportation Canada, and the Universal Waste Rule.
Call2Recycle offers consumers, businesses, communities and retailers a free
and convenient way to recycle the used rechargeable batteries found in
cordless electronic products, such as cell phones, laptop computers,
digital cameras, PDAs, cordless power tools, two-way radios, mp3 players
and camcorders. To learn more about Call2Recycle and find local collection
sites, visit www.call2recycle.org, Wikipedia or
Facebook.
About Call2Recycle®
Call2Recycle is the industry's first and only product stewardship program
for rechargeable batteries. The nonprofit program is administered by the
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a public service
organization dedicated to rechargeable battery recycling. There are more
than 30,000 Call2Recycle drop-off locations throughout the United States
and Canada. More than 175 manufacturers and marketers of portable
rechargeable batteries and products show their commitment to conserve
natural resources and prevent rechargeable batteries from entering the
solid waste stream by funding the Call2Recycle program. In pursuit of its
mission, Call2Recycle also collects old cell phones, which are either
recycled or refurbished and resold when possible with a portion of the
proceeds benefiting select charities. For more information, call
877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.
About BAN's e-Steward Initiative
The Basel Action Network's e-Steward Certification is the continent's first
independently audited and accredited electronic waste recycler
certification program. It forbids the dumping of toxic e-waste in
developing countries, local landfills and incinerators; the use of prison
labor to process e-waste; and the unauthorized release of private data
contained in discarded computers. For more information, please visit
www.e-Stewards.org.