(File photo/CKOM News Staff)

By CKOM News

Saskatchewan government backs battery recycling program

Dec 30, 2020 | 12:08 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan has approved a program that can recycle all of those batteries that have died in the toys kids got for Christmas.

In a media release Wednesday, the government announced it had given its approval to a recycling program for consumer batteries.

The program, which is to start Friday in the province, is to be operated by Call2Recycle Canada Inc. The non-profit environmental stewardship organization has been collecting batteries in Saskatchewan for recycling since 1997.

The program will take in used single-use and rechargeable batteries (weighing less than five kilograms each), excluding lead acid batteries.

Call2Recycle has set up dropoff locations across the province, including at all 73 SARCAN depots.

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“This recycling program is a positive step for the environment and for the people of Saskatchewan,” Environment Minister Warren Kaeding said in a media release.

“Having a convenient and important program in place to keep batteries and other hazardous materials out of our landfills helps support provincial goals laid out in our Solid Waste Management Strategy.”

Starting Friday, an environmental handling fee on batteries will be collected where they’re bought. The fees vary depending on the size and chemistry type of the battery. According to the government, fees for AAA and AA batteries are to be $0.02 and $0.04, respectively.

The fees will be paid to Call2Recycle for the collection, transportation and recycling of the batteries.

More information, including the fee structure and a map of dropoff locations, is available here.