ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/04/13 -- North American battery collections increased 16 percent from 2011 to a record 10 million pounds (4.7 million kilograms) in 2012, reported by Call2Recycle, a product stewardship organization managing the only no-cost battery and cellphone collection program in North America.

The organization attributes its success to closing a banner year in California and Canada, both which collected over one million pounds. California became the first state in program history to achieve this milestone. The 11 percent statewide growth came from the municipal and manufacturing sectors, which increased by 23 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

In Canada, Call2Recycle also had a positive year where battery collections grew by 56 percent. The increase can be accredited in part to its program expansion in Quebec, where Call2Recycle was selected by RECYC-QUÉBEC to serve as the official battery recycling program for the province. As of July 2012, Call2Recycle began accepting single-use household batteries for recycling in support of the provincial extended producer responsibility regulation. As a result, 2012 collections in Quebec rose by 357 percent over 2011.

"Our 2012 performance is vitally linked to the support of our program participants, consumers, and key constituents," said Carl Smith, CEO and president of Call2Recycle. "Without their environmental commitment, we would not be able to continue successfully collecting, transporting and recycling the millions of pounds of batteries across the U.S. and Canada."

Call2Recycle offers convenient battery collection sites through a network of over 30,000 retailers, municipalities, businesses and public agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about Call2Recycle or to find a drop-off location near you, visit call2recycle.org, call2recycle.ca or call toll-free 877-2-RECYCLE.

About Call2Recycle®
Call2Recycle is the only no-cost battery and cellphone collection program in North America. Since 1996, Call2Recycle has diverted more than 75 million pounds (34 million kilograms) of batteries from the solid waste stream through its established network of 30,000 collection sites. Advancing green business practices and environmental sustainability, Call2Recycle is the most active voice promoting eco-safe reclamation and recycling of batteries and cell phones. It is the first program of its kind to receive the Responsible Recycling Practices Standard (R2) certification. Learn more at call2recycle.org, call2recycle.ca or 877.723.1297. Become a follower or fan at twitter.com/call2recycle or facebook.com/call2recycle.

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