| In today’s society, “going green” is on the
tip of everyone’s tongue. Green business models and practices
are viewed as a competitive advantage, and business owners are more
willing than ever to invest in fostering an environmentally conscious
office. One simple way that businesses can give themselves a greener
edge is to recycle used rechargeable batteries that power in-office
electronics such as laptop computers, PDAs and cell phones. Many
companies use these items on a daily basis, relying on them to make
their businesses run smoothly.
Rechargeable batteries can often last for more than 1,000 charges—the
equivalent of about three years. When the batteries that power these
electronics eventually stop holding a charge and need to be replaced,
employers should recycle these batteries. Unfortunately, many employers
don’t know how to do this, or even know that they should,
which results in many used batteries in office filing cabinets and
drawers or the trash.
Companies can avoid this scenario by implementing a company-wide
recycling program that makes it convenient for employees to recycle
used materials such as paper, metal, lumber, aluminum, plastic or
oil. For batteries, organizations like the Rechargeable Battery
Recycling Corporation (RBRC) make recycling used rechargeable batteries
and old cell phones simple. As the only national nonprofit public
service organization dedicated to recycling these products, RBRC
has diverted more than 36 million pounds of rechargeable batteries
from public landfills since 1996. The corporation collects nickel
cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion and small sealed lead
rechargeable batteries that power a variety of portable electronics
including digital cameras, camcorders, power tools and other household
devices.
With the corporation’s Call2Recycle™ program, consumers
and businesses have a free, convenient way to properly dispose of
rechargeable batteries and keep them out of the solid waste stream.
For businesses or community agencies, RBRC will assist with the
set-up and management of the program and provide streamlined procedures
for returning the recovered batteries and cell phones to the recycling
facility. Enrolling in the program is free, as are the collection
containers, freight, processing and the actual recycling of used
rechargeable batteries.
Recycling is just one small way businesses can create a “green”
workplace. RBRC’s Call2Recycle program is the perfect solution
for companies looking to implement a rechargeable battery recycling
program. With education, hopefully your employees will come to view
rechargeable battery recycling as second nature and make this small
but effective step toward protecting the environment. |
