Toronto, ON, April 18, 2024 – Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling program, in partnership with Electronic Distributors International Inc. (EDI), a highly certified and diversified electronics recycler, proudly unveils a groundbreaking advancement in battery sorting technology that will multiply Ontario’s capacity to sort and recycle end-of-life batteries. This investment supports Call2Recycle and EDI’s strategy to invest in competitive battery recycling infrastructure to increase efficiency, enhance safety and help meet the province’s waste diversion goals.
The new advanced battery sorting equipment at EDI’s Orillia (ON) facility is one of four of its type in the world, and EDI is the only service provider in North America using this technology. This equipment will effectively double the plant’s capacity to sort used batteries, supporting the fast-increasing volumes of batteries recycled by Call2Recycle in Ontario (+58% in 2023), where Call2Recycle serves as the largest battery Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). The new sorting line was unveiled in the presence of the Honorable Jill Dunlop, MPP for North Simcoe and Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities.
As Canada’s provinces and territories are stepping up their recycling policies and objectives, existing recycling infrastructures need to adapt to fast-growing volumes of waste being recycled. EDI’s new sorting system tackles this battery recycling challenge by leveraging advanced X-ray technology that precisely identifies and sorts each battery type even when the battery chemistry or label is unidentifiable. This not only streamlines the entire battery sorting process but significantly reduces the risk of safety incidents due to sorting errors and improper chemistry identification. Through this technology, EDI’s facility can now process up to almost 500 kilograms of used batteries per hour, doubling the output of a traditional sorting line and setting a new benchmark for industry standards.
“We are proud to work with forward-thinking organizations like EDI who drive innovation and positive change in the recycling industry,” Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada. “Innovations like this not only bolster our efforts to increase Ontario’s battery recycling infrastructure but also help enhance its efficiency by supporting the collection of larger volumes of batteries, minimizing the environmental impact and supporting the local economy.”
“At EDI, we are continuously striving to not only modernize the recycling industry but to invest in solutions that align seamlessly with our partners’ evolving sustainability needs,” Norm Yorke, Managing Partner at EDI. “We are excited to be working with Call2Recycle to pioneer technology-driven battery sorting in North America, where innovative solutions drive responsible recycling.”
Since its inception in 1997, the Call2Recycle program has safely collected and responsibly recycled over 45 million kilograms of batteries, preventing them from ending up in Canadian landfills. To maximize battery collection and recycling efforts in Ontario and across Canada, Call2Recycle relies on high-quality, efficient sorting processes and innovation to ensure that batteries are properly separated, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource recovery as part of the circular economy.
About Call2Recycle Canada, Inc.
Call2Recycle® is Canada’s leading organization for battery collection and recycling, fulfilling product stewardship obligations on behalf of over 400 members, including producers of single-use and rechargeable batteries. Call2Recycle powers Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!, its household and e-bike battery collection and recycling program. The organization operates provincially-approved programs in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. It also functions as a registered Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in Ontario, adhering to the Ontario Batteries Regulation. It offers collection and recycling services for household batteries (weighing up to 5 kg), as well as e-transport batteries used to power e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards, and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Since its inception in 1997, Call2Recycle has diverted over 45 million kilograms of batteries from Canadian landfills. It upholds its commitment to operating the highest quality battery recycling program in Canada and holds certification in the most rigorous and globally respected standards, including R2v3, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 9001, as well as exclusively contracting with an ISO 27001 certified supplier for all IT infrastructure management. This reputation for excellence has enabled Call2Recycle to maintain trusted, long-term relationships with stakeholders and establish a network of more than 12,000 participating collection locations across Canada, including at leading retailers and municipal facilities.
About Electronic Distributors International Inc. (EDI)
EDI started in 2010 with a goal to offer a recycling option tailored specifically to business. Since that time, it has established processes achieved certifications and passed different security clearances with this goal in mind. The company now has three physical locations in Ontario: Orillia (head office and main production facility); Ottawa (supporting tech and government agencies) and Mississauga (offering quick response times to GTA clients). EDI was the first recycling company in Canada to incorporate all electric Avant loaders and heavy equipment to feed its processing system. The company strives to lessen the environmental impact of the material recycled but also seeks to reduce its own footprint, while maintaining safety to the highest standards.
Over the past 13 years EDI has established strong partners across Canada and the US which allows us to service customers’ needs no matter the province or state they may be located. During this time EDI has also listened to the needs of its customer base and we have expanded our services to include, warehousing, logistics, decommissioning services, office moves, manage employee remote services, onsite secure data destruction while still offering complete recycling and ITAD services.
Contact:
Charles-Antoine Dubois
Bilingual Corporate Communications Manager, Call2Recycle Canada
Email: [email protected] | Mobile: 647-464-7381
Norman Yorke
Managing Partner, Electronic Distributors International Inc.
Email: [email protected] | Mobile: 705-727-8584
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