Ontario’s Simcoe County has reached a major milestone in sustainable waste management by collecting more than 50,000 kilograms of used batteries during its Battery Collection Week from November 4 to 7.
The weight of batteries recycled — equivalent to 30 cars — marks one of the most successful curbside battery collection events in Canada, according to Call2Recycle Canada, a leading not-for-profit battery recycling organization.
This achievement is the result of a partnership between Simcoe County and Call2Recycle, which has educated the region’s more than 350,000 residents about the benefits of responsible battery disposal and made recycling accessible through permanent Household Hazardous Waste Depots. These depots allow residents to drop off batteries year-round. The Battery Collection Week initiative, bolstered by educational campaigns and the distribution of collection bags, significantly boosted community participation.
“The outstanding battery recycling efforts by the County’s residents demonstrate our community’s strong environmental consciousness,” said Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke. “On behalf of the County of Simcoe, I could not be more proud. This illustrates our dedication to making communities more responsible and creating a meaningful environmental impact.”
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Since 2020, Simcoe County and Call2Recycle have recycled over 225,000 kilograms of used batteries. The county’s commitment was recognized last year when it received the Leader in Sustainability Award from Call2Recycle. This year’s milestone serves as a model for other Ontario communities aiming to adopt curbside collection programs and advance their sustainability goals.
Joe Zenobio, president of Call2Recycle Canada, also praised the achievement, calling it “a powerful environmental success story for Ontarians” and urging other municipalities to implement similar initiatives to advance waste diversion goals across the province.
Simcoe County residents, along with Canadians across the country, can find their nearest battery drop-off points by visiting recycleyourbatteries.ca.
