Innovative solution to battery waste: Call2Recycle and EDI Inc.'s sorting technology
Armed with a first-of-its-kind sorting technology in North America, Call2Recycle has teamed up with Electronic Distributors International Incorporated (EDI Inc.) in Orillia to ensure that used batteries are redistributed instead of wasted.
The new sorting technology at EDI Inc. can separate batteries’ materials automatically instead of by hand, making it much easier for them to be reused for items such as e-bikes and golf clubs.
“The X-ray technology is the newest technology on the market to be able to do that,” said Norm Yorke from EDI Inc. The sorting equipment has allowed the Orillia-based recycling company to double its capacity and process almost 500 kilograms of batteries per hour. “It is looking for the chemistry of the battery. It’s not looking for what the battery label says,” added Yorke.
Recycling batteries is becoming more crucial with the rise in battery use, which is estimated to be 100 per household at a time.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
“We’re trying to raise awareness around the importance of recycling batteries,” said Jon McQuaid, Call2Recycle’s vice president of communications, marketing and innovation. His organization’s mission is to recycle as many as possible.
Canadians helped divert approximately 6 million kilograms of batteries from landfills across the country in 2023, which means fewer toxic chemicals ending up in the environment.
However, Call2Recycle also plans to make recycling batteries even more accessible with new ‘smart’ drop-off containers across 12,000 sites. The ‘smart’ containers can detect heat when they are filled.
“Don’t throw those batteries in the garbage,” urged McQuaid. “Get them out of your homes and get them to one of our convenient drop-off locations.”
Call2Recycle plans to launch its battery collection program with smart drop-off containers this winter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.