Call2Recycle, a consumer battery recycling program, ranks New Hampshire as one of the nation’s top 10 battery recycling states by collecting more than 37,000 pounds of batteries. According to a statement, overall, U.S. consumers recycled 7.2 million pounds of batteries last year through the Call2Recycle program.
“Since the inception of the Call2Recycle program, the citizens of New Hampshire have diverted more than 674,000 pounds of batteries from landfills and helped make the environment of New Hampshire cleaner and safer,” says Call2Recycle Executive Vice President of External Relations Linda Gabor. “With consumers relying more and more on battery-powered devices, National Battery Day is the perfect reminder that batteries and other electronics are an important part of the recycling picture.”
“We are proud of the citizens of New Hampshire as well as the other northeastern states for their commitment to responsibly manage batteries once they no longer power their devices,” says Mike Durfor, executive director of the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, based in Epsom. “NRRA, is working closely with Call2Recycle to continue to educate residents and towns on the importance of the battery recovery program. The safe handling of batteries is a major component of NRRA’s outreach efforts both in towns and schools this coming year.”
Before recycling, consumers should review tips on how to safely prepare their batteries:
Protect: Batteries can be bagged or taped to provide protection. You can tape the positive terminal with non-conductive electrical, duct or clear packing tape or individually place batteries in plastic bags (non-grocer).
Store: Keep batteries in a cool place, avoiding metal containers. Try to recycle within six months.
Recycle: Fully 97 percent of NH residents live within 10 miles of a drop-off site.
Since 1994, the Call2Recycle program has diverted and recycled more than 115 million pounds of batteries from U.S. landfills.
Current Issue - April 2024