Vermont Firms Pick Call2Recycle to Run State Battery Recycling Program

Vermont electronics and retail companies have named Call2Recycle Inc. to manage the United States’ first state battery recycling program.

An initial 11 companies chose the Atlanta-based consumer battery stewardship organization to develop, implement and promote a program for collecting and recycling spent primary batteries. The law mandating single-use battery recycling takes effect in Vermont Jan. 1, 2016.

Call2Recycle will submit a plan by June 1 on behalf of the companies, as required by Vermont law, according to a news release. The companies are Ace Hardware Corp., Dorcy International, Duracell/The Gillette Co./Procter & Gamble, Energizer Battery Manufacturing, Interstate Batteries Recycling, Panasonic Corp., Polaroid, Rayovac/Spectrum Brands, RiteAid, Sony Electronics and Varta Microbattery.

Call2Recycle has served Vermont for 21 years with free collection and recycling and rechargeable batteries. It currently has nearly 100 drop-off sites within 10 miles of 86 percent of Vermont residents. The group is working with a range of stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to expand battery recycling in the state.