A no-fuss, no-cost, charitable way for organizations to recycle batteries, phones

If this blog entry isn't something you can do something about, then make sure you pass it along to someone who can.

Who said you can't get nuthin' for free? If your company or organization (schools, non-profits, municipalities, etc.) is either looking into ways to become more eco-responsible or it's already well along the path but always on the look out for new programs to help save the Earth and you're not already working with RBRC.org, then perhaps you should be. RBRC stands for Rechargable Battery Recycling Corporation -- an organization that's funded by the battery manufacturing industry. Not only does the not-for-profit RBRC take rechargeable batteries from notebook PCs, cordless drills, etc, it also takes cell phones, many of which it refurbishes and resells. The proceeds of those sales go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

As you can see from my video interview of RBRC spokesperson Julie Grandstaff above, it's pretty much a no-brainer for organizations to reach out to RBRC if they haven't already because there is no cost whatsoever to participate. RBRC will work with you to set up your organization's collection boxes and when those collection boxes are full, all someone has to do is seal them up and call UPS. The UPS shipping fees are prepaid.

So, for you, the question is, do you recognize the collection boxes that are shown in the video. Is there one already located in some high traffic location at your place of work, school, or other organizational premises. If not, then, working with RBRC isn't a question of why, it's a question of why not. Right now, I have about 10 old, dead rechargeable batteries (from notebooks, my cordless drill, video cameras, etc.), not to mention several old cell phones and I've been wondering what to do with them. Now I know.

Now, if you're an individual who doesn't want to get involved in getting an RBRC program started at whatever organizations you're associated with, there are other ways to get your batteries and phones shipped back to RBRC. Across the US and Canada, there are thousands of public drop off locations at retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, Radio Shack. When I searched RBRC's online database of drop off locations by zip code, I found out that my local city hall was already participating.