Central York Fire Services (CYFS) has partnered with Call2Recycle to offer smart battery recycling to Aurora and Newmarket residents with drop-off containers available at CYFS fire stations.
The collaboration aims to prevent battery-related fires and to protect people, property and the environment by promoting safe and responsible battery handling and recycling practices, a CYFS news release said.
The Smart Containers for battery drop-off are located in the station entries for easy access anytime:
- Station 4-1, 984 Gorham St., Newmarket;
- Station 4-3, 220 Edward St., Aurora;
- Station 4-4, 1344 Wellington St. East, Aurora;
- Ian Laing Headquarters, 300 Earl Stewart Dr., Aurora;
- Station 4-2, 125 McCaffrey Rd., Newmarket - Please ring the bell for drop-off and a staff member will help.
Battery-related fires are a growing risk. When batteries are mishandled or discarded improperly, they could overheat and ignite, which has been known to cause residential fires, CYFS said.
Central York Fire Services and Call2Recycle offers a few tips for safe battery use:
- If a battery isn’t holding a charge well, it’s a sign it’s reached its end-of-life
- When batteries reach their end-of-life they need to be carefully handled and recycled. Never throw batteries into the trash or regular blue bins.
- Batteries can cause sparks if they come in contact with debris.
- Lithium batteries can be damaged in garbage trucks and cause fires at waste processing centres.
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place in your home.
- Never store new and used batteries together.
- When storing used batteries, protect the terminals by covering them with clear packing tape, duct tape or electrical tape.
- Drop off used batteries regularly. Every three months is ideal to avoid corrosion.
- Call2Recycle’s cutting-edge Smart Containers offer a technology-driven solution designed to collect and store batteries safely.
The program accepts consumer dry cell batteries (five kilograms or less each), including:
- Alkaline (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V);
- Lithium primary;
- Lithium-ion (Li-ion);
- Nickel metal Hydride (Ni-NH);
- Nickel zinc (Ni-Zn);
- Small sealed lead-acid (SLA, excluding SK batteries.)
“We’re proud to partner with Call2Recycle to make it easier for Aurora and Newmarket residents to safely dispose of batteries,” said CYFS Chief Rocco Volpe. “We’re committed to educating our community about ways to prevent fires and this gives our community an easy tool to keep their homes safer.”
“At Call2Recycle, we’re committed to making safety a priority,” said Joseph Chung, vice-president of account management at Call2Recycle. “We’re thrilled to work with Central York Fire Services to raise awareness about the importance of responsible battery recycling. By using our Smart Containers, we aim to reduce the risks associated with battery fires and improve the safety of our communities.”
As battery use in everyday devices continues to grow, Call2Recycle offers convenient, environmentally responsible solutions for safe disposal and recycling.