As daylight saving time ended this weekend, the province is encouraging everyone to take the opportunity to gather up and recycle used household batteries.
“Our homes are filled with battery-operated devices and we all have a role to play in the proper disposal of our used batteries,” Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires said. “People are encouraged to refresh the batteries in their smoke detectors when the clocks change, so this weekend is the perfect opportunity to gather up and recycle all your used batteries. It may seem small, but the potential damage to the environment will add up quickly if we don’t work together to divert batteries from landfills.”
In Manitoba, various designated materials, including printed paper and packaging, e-waste, household hazardous waste, expired medication, used tires, automobile oil and empty beverage containers, are handled with a responsibility-based model, operated by not-for-profit producer responsibility organizations (PROs).
Manitoba has developed strong partnerships with 12 PROs, including Call2Recycle, which manages the household battery stewardship program and accepts single-use batteries as well as rechargeable batteries. Collected batteries are sent to licensed facilities where valuable metals such as nickel, iron, cadmium, lead and cobalt are reclaimed and used in the recycling of new materials.
Manitoba has agreed to a five-year renewal of the business plan proposed by Call2Recycle, Squires confirmed.
“We are pleased to continue working with the Manitoba government to collect used household batteries to ensure they are properly recycled at their end of life,” said Joe Zenobio, president of Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. “Recycling batteries helps to minimize their environmental impact by not only keeping them out of landfills, but also allows for metals to be reclaimed and reused to make into new products.”
Currently, there are over 550 collection sites in Manitoba. In 2017, Call2Recycle recovered nearly 92,000 kilograms of single-use and rechargeable batteries. More information about battery recycling in Manitoba can be found at call2recycle.ca.
“Approximately 87 per cent of Manitobans have access to at least one battery drop-off location within 15 kilometres from home. Every little bit counts and we all need to pitch in and do our part,” said Squires.
The renewed five-year plan includes a recommendation to increase public awareness and a recovery target of 30 per cent. Other goals of the renewed program include ensuring better battery recycling opportunities in northern and remote communities.
