Call2Recycle Announces Campaign to End “Battery Hoarding” in Residences

Call2Recycle, North America’s first and largest consumer battery stewardship and recycling program, is encouraging individuals to declutter living spaces and break the “battery hoarder” habit by recycling used batteries.

“By breaking the battery hoarder habit, consumers can organize their living spaces, recycle used batteries and do something positive for the planet,” said Linda Gabor, vice president of marketing and customer service for Call2Recycle, Inc., in a statement.

With the busy nature of life, it’s easy for residents across the nation to become battery hoarders, says Call2Recycle. Be it empty nesters with old electronics in the attic or new homeowners with boxes of childhood treasures (including toys with batteries) in the basement or garage, hoarding happens.

A recent Nielsen study found that 21 percent of surveyed Americans hoarded used, single-use batteries for six months to a year, with 24 percent keeping used, rechargeable batteries for the same duration. Reasons for hoarding included holding for a future recycling trip or not knowing what to do with the used batteries.

In an effort to help individuals overcome those hoarding habits and jump-start their recycling efforts, Call2Recycle is giving away an anti-battery hoarder kit this Earth Day. Those interested in recycling their used batteries should bag or tape the batteries as needed before taking them to a Call2Recycling drop-off site. If the batteries are damaged or swollen, individuals are encouraged to contact Call2Recycle to learn about the special handling of these items.