Montreal, June 14, 2023 – Call2Recycle, a recognized stewardship organization that ensures the responsible management of battery collection and recycling, and the non-profit organization, Renaissance, a leader in social economics, are pleased to announce the rollout of new battery collection sites in the Greater Montreal Area, the Lower Laurentians and the Eastern Townships.

The partnership between Renaissance and Call2Recycle will allow consumers to drop off their used batteries in the designated collection boxes located at Renaissance’s 60 donation centres in Quebec.

This initiative will support the efforts made by Call2Recycle and Renaissance to increase battery recycling in the province. This partnership will help create awareness among the population that batteries must not be thrown away or placed in the recycling bin.

In order to keep batteries out of landfills, it is important to remind citizens that the battery collection network has more than 4,000 active collection sites in Quebec, of which 1,900 are public collection sites. Renaissance’s donation centres will be added to the public collection sites. To find a drop-off location near you, visit www.recycleyourbatteries.ca.

Recycling batteries is an essential practice in order to reduce the risks for the environment and the security risks associated with batteries that end up in the wrong containers (garbage or recycling bins). This recycling also plays an important role in the province’s effort to develop a circular economy in Quebec. 

“This partnership is in line with our actions to promote the preservation of our planet and help divert more waste from landfills. Adding our donation centres to the network of collection sites offers closer proximity to the citizens who wish to safely recycle their used batteries. We are very pleased to be part of the solution,” said Éric St-Arnaud, Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance.

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Renaissance to further develop the battery collection network in Quebec and divert these batteries from landfills in order to protect our environment,” declared Line Bérubé, Director, Eastern Canada, Call2Recycle. “The fact that citizens are very familiar with Renaissance’s donation centres facilitates access to battery recycling and encourages sustainable habits.”

With a total of more than 1,4 million kilograms of batteries collected in 2022, Quebec is a leader among all the Canadian provinces with regards to battery recycling. This recycling is part of a program called RECYC-QUÉBEC, which is managed by Call2Recycle. The program targets single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries under 5 kilograms. Simple and accessible, the battery collection network in Quebec provides 96% of Quebec consumers with convenient access to a battery recycling location within 15 km of their homes.

About Renaissance

Founded in 1994 in Montreal, Renaissance is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to facilitate the social and professional integration of those having difficulty entering the job market, while encouraging one and all to take concrete actions towards preserving the environment. Each year, Renaissance accompanies almost 1,000 individuals in their journey to integrate the workforce. It also diverts more than 26,000 tons of used goods from landfills. 

At Renaissance, used items are given a second life, individuals are reinserted into the workforce and donations are reinvested into the community. This threefold purpose gives real meaning to the organization’s activities and makes Renaissance a model of sustainable development.

About Call2Recycle

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. It is the provincially approved consumer battery collection and recycling program for British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island, and operates as a registered Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in Ontario according to the Ontario Batteries Regulation. Call2Recycle accepts household batteries (weighing up to 5 kgs) for recycling and eTransport batteries used to power eBikes, eScooters, eSkateboards, Hoverboards and Electric Vehicles (EVs).

Since its inception in 1997, Call2Recycle has diverted almost 40 million kilograms of batteries from Canadian landfills. This reputation for excellence has enabled Call2Recycle to maintain trusted, long-term relationships with stakeholders and a network of more than 10,000 participating collection locations across Canada, including at leading retailers and municipal facilities.

Media contacts:

Linda Pimparé, Assistant Director, Communications and Marketing

Renaissance

Email: [email protected]

Phone:  514 244-5578

Charles-Antoine Dubois, Bilingual Corporate Communications Manager

Call2Recycle Canada

Email: [email protected] 

Mobile:  647 464-7381