Durham Region diverts 160 metric tonnes of household batteries from the waste stream

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region has officially diverted 160.5 metric tonnes (160,500 kilograms) of household batteries from the waste stream through its award-winning curbside battery collection program with the recent spring collection drive.

“This program is a success because of the efforts of our staff and program partners—Raw Materials Company Inc., Stewardship Ontario, Green For Life and Miller Waste Systems—but most of all because of our residents,” said Susan Siopis, Commissioner of Works. “With their ongoing participation in this program, Durham residents are keeping these batteries out of the waste stream. This allows us to recover metal components and keep mercury, cadmium and other harmful materials from entering the environment. We’d like to thank residents and ask that they continue saving their batteries for the upcoming fall collection!”

Durham Region first launched curbside battery collection in 2012 as a pilot program. With an enthusiastic response from residents, the Region set out to break the existing record for the most batteries collected in a 24-hour period. Durham shattered the existing record, collecting 5,120 kilograms of batteries and earning a Guinness World Record. The program was made permanent in 2013, with curbside battery collection taking place twice a year, in the spring and fall. To find out when the next collection date is, residents are encouraged to visit durham.ca/battery, check their waste collection calendar or download the Durham Region Waste App.

Collected batteries are processed by Raw Materials Company Inc. in Port Colbourne, Ont., where steel, zinc, potassium and manganese are recovered.

To learn more about curbside battery recycling in Durham Region, visit durham.ca/battery.

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