Rechargeable battery group reports 7.7% recycling increase

Feb. 14 -- North Americans recycled 7.7 percent more rechargeable batteries last year, according to the industry´s latest data.

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. released its 2004 data Feb. 14. The nonprofit group´s recycling program collected more than 4.4 million pounds of rechargeable batteries, 7.7 percent more than in 2003. The group´s Call2Recycle cell phone collection program has amassed more than 48,000 cell phones since its April launch.

Interest from national retailers, businesses, communities and other recycling programs has increased since 2003, said Ralph Millard, RBRC executive vice president. More than 30,000 retail and community collection locations participate in the RBRC´s cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling programs. More than 400 portable rechargeable battery and product manufacturers and marketers fund the RBRC.