Close to three million kilos of batteries diverted from Canadian landfills in 2019

Canada's national consumer battery collection and recycling program, Call2Recycle Canada, Inc., has announced the highest battery collection numbers since inception. Thanks to increased participation of Canadians, almost 3 million kilograms of household batteries were recycled in 2019, a 9 percent increase over 2018 results.

Call2Recycle Canada has also reported a more than 10 percent increase in batteries collected in regulated provinces - British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Quebec - where it serves as the stewardship program. The momentum in Canada is strong as battery recycling and awareness appears to be high. 

According to a 2019 Ipsos study (commissioned by Call2Recycle Canada) an average of nearly 80 percent of residents in the regulated provinces are aware that old batteries need to be recycled, while 68 percent actually recycle their old batteries.

"Strong partnerships with purpose-driven retailers, recycling depots and provincial governments across the country in 2019 have contributed to yet another record-setting year for Call2Recycle," said Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. "We are extremely pleased with this achievement and proud to see that Canadian consumers are more mindful than ever of the important connection between battery recycling and a sustainable environment."

By the Numbers  

• Almost 3 million kilograms of household batteries were collected Canada-wide.
• Call2Recycle Canada's regulated provinces (British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Quebec) led the charge with the highest collection results.
• Quebec residents collected the most for a third year in a row, recycling more than 1.2 million kilograms of used batteries - an 8 per cent increase over 2018.
• British Columbia residents recycled more than 720,000 kilograms of used batteries, resulting in an annual increase of 14 per cent over 2018.
• Manitobans recycled 120,000 kilograms of used batteries, resulting in an annual increase of 11 per cent.
• Prince Edward Island recycled 37,000 kilograms of used batteries in its first year as a regulated province, with the highest annual provincial increase of 25 per cent.

For 21 years, Call2Recycle Canada, Inc. has been administering its consumer battery collection and recycling program in Canada, and in 2019 established more than 1,100 new collection sites in regulated provinces to create more convenient battery collection opportunities. More than 91 percent of Canadians live within 15 kilometres of one of Call2Recycle's public drop-off locations including retailers, municipalities, businesses, schools/universities and government buildings.