THE DEMAND for PORTABILITY

The introduction of portable electronic devices in the past decade has created an impressive demand for on- the -spot energy sources.

In Canada, some 550million alkaline and rechargeable batteries are bought in a year. the US demand is estimated at 3 BILLION per year.

Each family buys 32 batteries per year ,each person in the family owns 2 button, and 10 normal A, AA, AAA, etc., and the average household throws out 8 batteries a year.

In addition, 100 million auto batteries are disposed of in the USA .

During 2005 some 130 million cell phones were discarded in the US.

The growth in laptop computers, PDA's, mp3's, Ipod's, wireless headsets and power tools to name a few, supports a healthy business environment for battery suppliers.

RECYCLING

Batteries are essentially stored chemical reactions that convert into electrical energy to drive the associated device. When spent, they do present a real problem as waste as they are inevitably toxic.

A recent estimate had 65,000 tons of waste generated from the discarding of 130 million cell phones in the US each year alone.

BUT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN

Initiatives have been taken to provide alternatives to trash dumps.

The reclaiming of precious metals, chemicals, etc., etc., has not only become a good business practice, but is the right thing to do.

To date, frustration still exists as there are currently no known facilities in the US that can in a practical, cost efficient manner, reclaim all types of batteries found in the household.

Most batteries currently collected from households are disposed in the trash, or in ever increasing numbers to the hazardous waste land fill.

Initiatives are being undertaken by Cities, Municipalities and some Townships to have special (normally weekend) days where sites are advertised as collection areas on a regular basis for all sorts of potentially reclaimable household waste, from tires, to paint to oil, etc., and including batteries.

More encouragingly, retailers selling batteries specifically are being more sensitive to their clients concerns and are providing recycle availability.

The source references to this article are in some cases recycle providers to corporations whose employees can bring their spent batteries for recycle; and in other cases list retail establishments that they collect product from for recycle.

For your specific area in the US or Canada, try this link. It provides free objective information on recycling.

National Retailers that participate in the Call2Recycle program.

USA

• Alltel
• AT&T

   

• Batteries Plus
• Best Buy

   

• Black & Decker

   

• Circuit City

   

• The Home Depot

   

• Lowe's
• Makita Factory Service Centers
• Milwaukee Electric Tool

   

• Office Depot
• OfficeMax

   

• Porter Cable ServiceCtrs.

   

• RadioShack

   

• Remington Product Co.

   

• Sears/Orchard Supply
• Staples

   

• Target

   

• US Cellular
• Verizon Wireless

   

CANADA

• Batteries Expert
• Battery Plus
• Bell World
• Black & Decker
• FIDO/Microcell
• The Home Depot

• Home Hardware

• London Drugs
• Motorola Cellular Dealers
• OfficeMax
• Personal Edge/Centre du Rasoir
• Revy
• Sears
• The Sony Store

   

• The Source by Circuit City
• Staples
• Telus Mobility
• Zellers