Quebec initiative safely disposes of battery-powered consumer electronics

Call2Recycle Canada has once again expanded safe and sustainable end-of-life battery recycling programs with a new Battery-Powered Products collection program in Quebec. 

The initiative addresses a growing environmental and safety challenge in the province — the increasing number of everyday products that contain embedded or removable batteries, which require specialized handling and recycling. As more consumer products become battery-powered, including toys, personal care devices, smoke detectors, tools, vapes, e-bikes, and mobility devices, the need for safe, accessible, and battery-focused end-of-life solutions is increasing.

"Battery-powered products are, first and foremost, battery management challenges," said Joe Zenobio, president and CEO at Call2Recycle Canada. "As batteries become increasingly integrated into the products Quebecers use every day, safe collection and handling require specialized expertise. Call2Recycle has spent more than a decade building the infrastructure, safety protocols, partnerships, and trust needed to responsibly manage batteries across Quebec, and this program is a natural extension of that leadership."

The initiative builds on Call2Recycle's longstanding battery recycling activities in Quebec, as well as the organization's experience managing battery-powered products through pilot projects and specialized collection initiatives in the province.

Getting Quebec closer to its sustainability goals 

The initiative supports Quebec's environmental objectives and directly addresses the regulatory amendments introduced in 2022 to the Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises concerning batteries. These amendments added certain battery-powered products with embedded batteries to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements, including vaping devices, personal care products, smoke detectors, and others. The goal is to ensure the implementation of a collection and recycling solution for batteries contained in these products.

Developed in close collaboration with the Centres de formation en entreprise et récupération (CFER) and RECYC-QUÉBEC, this initiative provides manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers with a turnkey solution for the safe collection and recycling of battery-powered products, while helping to reduce the environmental and safety risks associated with improperly managed batteries.

To simplify recycling for residents and improve recovery outcomes, the program will accept both:

• Battery-powered products with built-in batteries; and
• Battery-powered products with removable batteries

Which will be collected through participating eco-centres.

Local partnerships 

The program is being delivered in collaboration with Quebec-based and local partners that will support collection infrastructure, logistics, sorting, and processing activities across the province.

"Quebec has developed a strong ecosystem of collection, sorting, and recycling expertise, and we are proud to build this program alongside trusted local partners," said Zenobio. "Our established network and operational experience in the province allow us to deploy safe and effective solutions quickly while supporting Quebec's circular economy and local infrastructure."

Collection services will be available through participating eco-centres across the province.

Battery-powered consumer products pose a serious safety concern in recycling streams 

Battery-powered products can present serious safety risks when improperly managed, particularly when damaged lithium-ion batteries are involved. Collecting products intact helps ensure batteries are safely identified, recovered, and processed through qualified downstream partners using proven battery management practices.

The program is designed to:

• Improve public access to safe recycling solutions;
• Reduce battery-related fire risks;
• Support the producer's environmental obligations;
• Increase battery recovery rates; and
• Advance Québec's circular economy objectives.