Lafleur Scores Recycling Goal for Earth Day

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada, April 21, 2003 (ENS) - Hockey superstar Guy Lafleur is traveling this week, but not to a hockey game. He is speaking on behalf of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit organization that is holding its 5th annual Battery Check Week. Lafleur is encouraging Canadians to be green and recycle their rechargeable batteries. The program coincides with Earth Day, April 22, and runs April 21 to 25.

"It should be everyone’s goal to be an environmental champion. And recycling used rechargeable batteries is an easy way to score one for the environment," said Lafleur, who was the heart and soul of the Montreal Canadiens during the 1970s and '80s.

Guy Lafleur promotes rechargeable battery recycling. (Photo courtesy RBRC)

"Battery Check Week is RBRC's opportunity to encourage consumers to take charge of their cordless lifestyle and to be responsible users from the time they purchase a product through the end of its life," Lafleur said.

Today in Moncton, New Brunswick Lafleur served as the main attraction for an event cohosted by RBRC and the Westmorland-Albert Solid Waste Management Corporation. Anyone who dropped off a rechargeable battery for recycling had the opportunity to meet Lafleur and get an autograph.

In addition, the fire chiefs of Westmorland-Albert signed up to start recycling programs in their firehouses. LaFleur presented the fire chiefs with their first rechargeable battery recycling bins.

"The fire departments of the Westmorland-Albert Region are sending a strong message to the community about the importance of recycling by signing up for the RBRC program during Battery Check Week," said Susan Antler, RBRC's program coordinator. "What makes this day even more significant is that Westmorland-Albert was the first community in Canada to sign up to the RBRC program in 2001."

RBRC makes it easy to recycle rechargeables by working with national retailers, businesses and community recycling sites to set up convenient drop-off facilities for used rechargeable batteries. There are over 30,000 retail and community battery collection locations throughout Canada and the United States that participate in RBRC's battery recycling program.

National participating retailers include Bell Mobility, Canadian Tire, The Home Depot, Home Hardware, London Drugs, RadioShack Canada, SaskTel, Sears, Sony and Telus Mobility.

Westmorland-Albert fire chiefs pose with their new battery recycling bins. (Photo courtesy RBRC)

Antler said, "While the program is designed to raise attention to recycling rechargeable batteries around Earth Day, we ask that people incorporate 'If it's rechargeable, it's recyclable!' into their daily routines and remember to recycle everyday."

Lafleur will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia tomorrow for Earth Day. At the 5th Annual Mobius Awards ceremony, the Nova Scotia Resource Recovery Fund Board will honor Nova Scotians who have made significant achievements towards protecting the environment. Lafleur will be recognized as the event's guest of honor and will present the awards to this year's winners.

This year RRFB Nova Scotia celebrates the 5th Annual Solid Waste-Resource Awards, now called the Mobius Awards after the Mobius Loop, which is the international symbol for recycling. They are not to be confused with the Mobius Advertising Awards honoring the producers of television and radio commercials.

Lafleur said, "The Mobius Awards are an excellent opportunity to recognize businesses, communities and individuals for their demonstrable work around recycling, composting and greening up the Earth. It's a great honor to be at the event on behalf of RBRC."

To find a nearby drop-off location for their rechargeable, householders can go to http://www.rbrc.org or call 1-800-8-BATTERY, to receive a list of participating retailers and community collection sites.