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A battery recycling initiative led by non-profit Call2Recycle is being expanded Canada-wide to Staples Professional Inc., bringing in Staples' Canadian business customers.
Customers of Staples Professional, Staples’ B2B brand, can now recycle their single-use, rechargeable and electric mobility batteries by participating in Toronto-based Call2Recycle's Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program.
Call2Recycle and Richmond Hill, Ont.-based Staples Canada have partnered since 2004, helping to recycle nearly two million kilograms of batteries, according to a release. Staples has almost 300 stores across the country.
"Staples Professional is committed to delivering products, services, and solutions that not only meet the diverse needs of our customers but also protect our natural resources and our planet," Chris Saniga, chief B2B officer of Staples Professional, said in a release.
Staples did not reply to Sustainable Biz Canada’s request for additional information by the time of publication.
Staples’ Canadian recycling initiatives
The reusable resources in batteries, such as the metals and certain chemicals, are reclaimed, minimizing the build-up of waste and pollution while sustaining a circular economy. New batteries and electronics can be made using the recycled materials.
Staples Canada said its partnership with Call2Recycle helped the company exceed a goal of diverting 750,000 kilograms of batteries from landfill between 2020 and 2025, reaching 840,000 kilograms in 2024.
"We have made great strides with our partner Staples Canada for the past 20 years, helping Canadian consumers become increasingly aware of the importance of recycling batteries," Joe Zenobio, president of Call2Recycle Canada, said in the announcement. "We are thrilled to expand these efforts to Staples Professional, making it even easier for Canadian businesses to recycle their batteries and contribute to a more sustainable future."
For writing instruments such as pencils and pens, Staples Canada surpassed a 2025 target for recycling writing instruments by one year, processing eight million pens and pencils from 2020 to 2024.
The company partners with Trenton, N.J.-headquartered recycling company TerraCycle for the writing instruments.
With another recycling partner, eCycle Solutions, Staples Canada accepts end-of-life electronics such as cellphones and computers. Over 20 million kilograms of electronic waste were collected through this program, according to Staples Canada.
Two additional Staples Canada recycling goals for 2025 are collecting 13,500 tonnes of electronics and 8.5 million units of ink and toner.
In its 2023 sustainability report, the latest to date, the company said it collected 7,950 tonnes of electronics and just under seven million units of ink and toner.
Other than recycling, Staples Canada is working to reduce its electricity and natural gas consumption by 10 per cent from 2020 to 2025. The sustainability report said it had cut electricity consumption by 9.78 per cent, while natural gas use fell 5.6 per cent.
Call2Recycle’s reach
Since its founding in 1997, Call2Recycle has diverted over 50 million kilograms of batteries with nearly 15,000 participating locations in Canada. It also accepts batteries used in electric vehicles.
Over 90 per cent of Canadians live within 15 kilometres of a Call2Recycle drop-off site, according to the non-profit.
The organization has over 400 members across the country including major retailers and electronics companies.
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