UBC’s Battery Recycling Program

Every year, millions of batteries make their way into normal landfills. The heavy metals and toxic chemicals from the decomposition of these batteries have the potential to contaminate soil and pollute our waterways.

UBC’s goal is to provide a safe, convenient and environmentally responsible way to handle used batteries.

We recycle both rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries free of charge. The service is provided by Call2Recycle, North America’s only free battery and cell phone collection program.

We are proud of the success of UBC’s Battery Recycling Program.

• UBC is Call2Recycle’s top-ranked university in Canada for battery recycling with over 2,300 KGs of rechargeable and primary batteries in 2011. (85% growth rate vs. 2010). (Based on 48 Post-Secondary institutions participating in the Call2Recycle program)
• UBC ranks in the top 30 of all Call2Recycle battery collecting accounts in British Columbia (26^th) (Based on 1,343 active collecting accounts participating in the Call2Recycle program)
• UBC ranks in the top 60 of all Call2Recycle battery collecting accounts across all of Canada (57^th) (Based on 5,120 active collecting accounts participating in the Call2Recycle program)
• UBC has recycled over 8,700 kg in batteries (including both led acid batteries and rechargeable/primary batteries in 2011)

Noga Levit, Environmental Services Manager, said “We appreciate the support from UBC's community and its commitment to environmental protection. We look forward to seeing an increase in recycling throughout the campus and achieving a record breaking amount in 2012.”

For more information, please visit our battery recycling program page.