Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling program, in partnership with Electronic Distributors International Inc. (EDI), a highly certified and diversified electronics recycler, unveils a groundbreaking advancement in battery sorting technology that will multiply Ontario’s capacity to sort and recycle end-of-life batteries. This investment supports Call2Recycle and EDI’s strategy to invest in competitive battery recycling infrastructure to increase efficiency, enhance safety and help meet the province’s waste diversion goals.
The new advanced battery sorting equipment at EDI’s Orillia (ON) facility is one of four of its type in the world, and EDI is the only service provider in North America using this technology. This equipment will effectively double the plant’s capacity to sort used batteries, supporting the fast-increasing volumes of batteries recycled by Call2Recycle in Ontario (+58% in 2023), where Call2Recycle serves as the largest battery Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). The new sorting line was unveiled in the presence of the Honorable Jill Dunlop, MPP for North Simcoe and Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities.
As Canada’s provinces and territories are stepping up their recycling policies and objectives, existing recycling infrastructures need to adapt to fast-growing volumes of waste being recycled. EDI’s new sorting system tackles this battery recycling challenge by leveraging advanced X-ray technology that precisely identifies and sorts each battery type even when the battery chemistry or label is unidentifiable. This not only streamlines the entire battery sorting process but significantly reduces the risk of safety incidents due to sorting errors and improper chemistry identification. Through this technology, EDI’s facility can now process up to almost 500 kilograms of used batteries per hour, doubling the output of a traditional sorting line and setting a new benchmark for industry standards.
“We are proud to work with forward-thinking organizations like EDI who drive innovation and positive change in the recycling industry,” Joe Zenobio, President of Call2Recycle Canada. “Innovations like this not only bolster our efforts to increase Ontario’s battery recycling infrastructure but also help enhance its efficiency by supporting the collection of larger volumes of batteries, minimizing the environmental impact and supporting the local economy.”
“At EDI, we are continuously striving to not only modernize the recycling industry but to invest in solutions that align seamlessly with our partners’ evolving sustainability needs,” Norm Yorke, Managing Partner at EDI. “We are excited to be working with Call2Recycle to pioneer technology-driven battery sorting in North America, where innovative solutions drive responsible recycling.”