Rechargeable battery recycling surges in New Jersey

In 2010, New Jersey residents made great strides toward becoming responsible consumers of wireless technologies by recycling 22.5 percent more rechargeable batteries than the previous year. The increase was due in part to the statewide awareness efforts of the Association of New Jersey Household Hazardous Waste Coordinators (ANJHHWC), in partnership with Call2Recycle.

At the beginning of the year, the 2 organizations developed a plan to work with businesses and government agencies across the state to increase rechargeable battery recycling efforts by 15 percent. Through advertisements, community newsletters, newspaper articles and meetings with municipal officials, ANJHWWC and Call2Recycle spread the word about the importance and ease of battery recycling. New Jersey residents received the message and successfully diverted more than 110,000 pounds of rechargeable batteries from landfills.

Call2Recycle has a network of more than 1,400 retailers, public agencies and businesses throughout New Jersey that serve as rechargeable battery collection sites. The organization accepts all rechargeable batteries, up to 11 pounds each, used for items including laptops, cell phones, digital cameras, two-way radios and back-up power supplies.