Survey: Americans Hoard Old CE Products

Atlanta— A survey from the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC) shows that 45 percent of respondents are hoarding old cellphones in their homes.

When asked if they knew they could recycle their used rechargeable batteries and old cellphones, 71 percent answered in the affirmative. However, RBRC said many of these products, such as cellphones, are kept in storage for many years anyway, while they could be recycled instead.

Common household wireless products that use rechargeable batteries include cordless and cellular phones, laptops, digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs and others.

With consumers growing increasingly reliant on rechargeable batteries to power their daily lives, the RBRC finds there is an increasing need to recycle these cells, which, at the same time, tends to de-clutter homes as well as do the right thing for the environment.

When asked what it would take to get consumers to recycle their used rechargeable batteries and old cellphones, 58 percent of the survey respondents replied that convenient drop-off locations in their areas would make a difference.

Consumers interested in locating participating retail stores in their area about dropping off used rechargeable cells and old cellphones can visit www.call2recycle.org, said the RBRC.