Continued Growth

American' rising use of wireless devices continues to be reflected in the amount of material collected each year by the Atlanta-based Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC).

In 2006, RBRC collected more than 5.6 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in the United States and Canada. The total represents the continuation of a steady increase in the organization's annual collection totals.

RBRC collected nearly 5 million pounds of rechargeable batteries in 2005, approximately 4.4 million pounds in 2004 and 4.1 million pounds in 2003.

The organization takes in the batteries through a network of more than 50,000 collection spots located at retailers and public sites throughout North America.

“We are pleased that our program continues to grow and welcome the participation of many new key partners,” said Ralph Millard, executive vice president of RBRC, in a press release. “As consumers' reliance on portable, cordless electronic products continues to grow, so does the need to recycle the batteries that power them, which is RBRC's mission.”

RBRC cites several factors for 2006's increase, including an 18 percent rise in the number of participating retail locations and a 23 percent jump in participating public agency locations.

The passage of California's Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act of 2006, which requires retailers to provide consumers with a free program for turning in used batteries for reuse, recycling or disposal, is another factor cited by the organization.

For more details on 2006's collection numbers, visit www.rbrc.org.