Hockey Legend Guy Lafleur Teams Up With the RBRC CANADA to Encourage Canadians to Make their Actions Count for the Environment This Week and Year-Round
TORONTO, CANADA, October 15, 2007 – To encourage all consumers to help protect the environment, the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) in Canada will be celebrating Waste Reduction Week by hosting several events throughout Canada to educate as many consumers, businesses and community agencies as possible on the importance of recycling used rechargeable batteries and old cellphones.
The goal of Waste Reduction Week is to provide communities, individuals, businesses and schools with resources and information about waste minimization and conservation initiatives. To show its commitment to Canada’s environment and to the mission of Waste Reduction Week, the RBRC has teamed up with hockey legend, Guy Lafleur, who will be available for meet-and-greets at all of the following events:
- Tuesday, October 16th in Montreal – A press event will be held at Espace Libre, a former fire station in Old Montreal, to celebrate the recycling efforts of the City of Montreal, the Montreal Fire Department and residents
- Thursday, October 18th in Calgary – The RBRC will present the National Recycling Leadership Award to the Alberta Environment Action on Waste team, for their coordination of a six-month call-to-action campaign that encouraged businesses, communities and public agencies in Alberta to join RBRC’s Call2Recycle™ program. The call-to-action campaign resulted in the signing-on of 41 additional collection locations that, along with other locations in Alberta, collected more than 15,203 kilograms of rechargeable batteries during the campaign period, an increase of +31% versus the previous year.
- Friday, October 19th in Vancouver and Burnaby, BC – The RBRC will recognize its partnership success with London Drugs, whose stores serve as RBRC collection locations throughout Western Canada, at the chain’s Burnaby store in the Brentwood Town Centre
Last month, the RBRC celebrated its ten-year anniversary in Canada and raised awareness for the significant strides the organization has made to educate businesses, communities, public agencies, retailers and the public-at-large about the importance of rechargeable battery and cellphone recycling. Over the last ten years, the RBRC has collected a total of over one million kilograms of rechargeable batteries and cellphones with collection rates increasing year over year. Additionally, the RBRC now has more than 7,000 collection locations throughout the country including major retailers, community organizations and public agencies.
“While to some, recycling might seem routine, continuing to remind folks that rechargeable batteries and cellphones can be recycled is so important,” said Susan Antler, RBRC Canadian Program Coordinator. “It is through awareness weeks and ongoing efforts with our recycling locations that we are able to educate the public about our organization and encourage everyone to make recycling a priority, today, tomorrow and for years to come. With the help of all Canadians, we hope to continue our growth plans and expand upon existing programs, all with the goal of diverting these rechargeable batteries and cellphones from the local landfills.”
Throughout the year, the RBRC in Canada supports frequent public service and education campaigns highlighting the benefits of the Call2Recycle program; Hockey legend Guy Lafleur serves an instrumental role in RBRC’s outreach to various organizations.
“Waste Reduction Week has now become an annual celebration and I am proud to support the RBRC’s initiatives year-round in an effort to keep as many rechargeable batteries and cellphones as possible out of the solid waste stream,” said Guy Lafleur, RBRC Ambassador. “I hope to encourage everyone to make their recycling actions count both for the benefit of our environment and for our collective future.”
Since 1996, RBRC has collected over 16 million kilograms of rechargeable batteries in the U.S and Canada. Consumers can find the nearest participating drop-off location by going online at www.call2recycle.org or www.rbrc.org or calling toll free 1-877-2-RECYCLE.
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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 U.S. 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 cellphones, 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.
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