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TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDITOR: |
Richard Karn Leads the Charge to Recycle on Battery Check Day |
RBRC Spokesperson Encourages Consumers to Recycle Rechargeable Batteries |
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, Apr. 26 -/E-Wire/--
Richard Karn, star of TV's Home Improvement and spokesperson for the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), has a new message this Battery Check Day: "If it's rechargeable, it's recyclable."
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Battery Check Day (April 26) is a national day to encourage consumers to check the batteries in their portable electronic products, such as cordless and cellular phones, cordless power tools, camcorders and laptop computers. If the rechargeable batteries can no longer hold a charge, consumers can call 1-800-8-BATTERY or go online at http://www.rbrc.org to find a participating location to recycle them. This year is RBRC's third annual Battery Check Day, but it is the first time that all portable rechargeable batteries can be recycled -- in January RBRC expanded its Nickel Cadmium battery recycling program to include Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), and Small Sealed Lead (Pb)* rechargeable batteries.
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"With the growing number of people owning wireless products, our mission to recycle batteries and preserve natural resources is even more vital," said Richard Karn.
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To celebrate Battery Check Day, Karn and RBRC are teaming up with two major league baseball teams -- the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins -- and encouraging consumers to "Go to Bat for Batteries." On April 26, Karn visits St. Louis students who have completed RBRC's Charge Up to Recycle! Battery Lesson Plan. He then heads to Busch Stadium to throw out the first pitch as the Cardinals take on the Montreal Expos.
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Battery Check Day activities continue in Minneapolis on April 27, where Karn visits the Mall of America to check consumers' rechargeable batteries and recognize select retailers at the Mall that participate in RBRC's battery recycling program. That night, Karn and RBRC visit the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome where the Minnesota Twins take on the Baltimore Orioles. In addition, battery collection sites will be set up at the Mall and around the stadium so both shoppers and baseball fans can drop off their used rechargeable batteries for recycling.
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"Although Battery Check Day happens once a year, our mission is year round," said RBRC President and CEO C. Norman England. "We at RBRC like to think of every day as Battery Check Day and encourage everyone to check their rechargeable batteries regularly."
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RBRC National Community Recycling Leadership Award In a field ceremony before the Twins game, Karn and RBRC will recognize the Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services for leading the nation in collecting and recycling rechargeable batteries. RBRC will present the first-ever RBRC National Community Recycling Leadership Award -- established to recognize RBRC community program participants for their outstanding efforts in rechargeable battery recycling.
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About RBRC The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) is a nonprofit public service organization dedicated to rechargeable battery recycling. There are over 30,000 retail and community battery collection locations throughout the U.S. and Canada that participate in RBRC's battery recycling program. RBRC is funded by more than 300 manufacturers and marketers of portable rechargeable batteries and products. These companies are committed to preserving the environment and pay a fee to place the RBRC Battery Recycling Seal on rechargeable batteries and product packaging. RBRC's public education campaign and battery recycling program in the U.S. and Canada -- Charge Up to Recycle!(R) -- is the result of the rechargeable power industry's commitment to conserve natural resources and prevent rechargeable batteries from entering the solid waste stream.
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* weighing less than 2 lbs. Or 1 kg.
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