Call2Recycle Canada Expands Québec Program to Collect and Recycle Battery-Powered Products

Call2Recycle Canada has launched a new battery-powered products collection and recycling program in Québec, expanding its existing Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! initiative to address the growing volume of consumer products containing embedded or removable batteries.

The program is designed to provide a dedicated end-of-life collection system for products such as toys, personal care devices, smoke detectors, power tools, vaping devices, e-bikes and mobility equipment. Collection services will be available through participating eco-centres across the province.

Call2Recycle has operated battery collection and recycling programs in Québec since 2011 and said the new initiative builds on more than 15 years of experience working with municipalities, retailers, eco-centres, government agencies and environmental organizations. The expanded program broadens the organization's role from battery collection to managing battery-powered products that require specialized handling and recycling.

The initiative responds to the increasing number of products incorporating lithium-ion and other rechargeable batteries, which can present environmental and fire safety risks if improperly disposed of. The program accepts products with both built-in and removable batteries, allowing batteries to be safely identified, recovered and processed through qualified recycling partners.

Joe Zenobio, President and Chief Executive Officer of Call2Recycle Canada, said the growing use of embedded batteries has created new collection and management challenges that require specialized infrastructure, established safety procedures and industry partnerships. He said the new program extends the organization's existing battery management expertise to a wider range of consumer products.

The launch also supports amendments introduced in 2022 to Québec's Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises, which expanded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements to include several categories of battery-powered products with embedded batteries, including vaping devices, smoke detectors and personal care products.

The program was developed in collaboration with the Centres de formation en entreprise et récupération (CFER) and RECYC-QUÉBEC to provide manufacturers, importers, retailers and consumers with a collection and recycling solution that supports compliance with provincial EPR obligations.

According to Call2Recycle, the initiative aims to improve public access to battery recycling, reduce battery-related fire risks, increase recovery rates for battery materials and strengthen Québec's circular economy through local collection, sorting and recycling partnerships.

The program will be supported by Québec-based partners responsible for collection infrastructure, logistics, sorting and downstream processing, with participating eco-centres serving as the primary collection network across the province.

Source: Call2Recycle

SUNSHINE Spotlight: As battery-powered consumer products become more common, Québec is expanding collection infrastructure to improve battery recovery, reduce fire risks and support compliance with evolving Extended Producer Responsibility requirements.