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Batteries Plus Teams Up with Green Bay Packers to Launch Battery Recycling Initiative Backed By U.S. Department of Energy

By: Batteries Plus |  0 Shares     145 Reads

August 02, 2024 // Franchising.com // HARTLAND, Wis. - Following the news of being chosen to enter into negotiations for a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Batteries Plus announced today at Lambeau Field its partnership with the Green Bay Packers to launch a new battery recycling initiative. Backed by the Department of Energy, this collaboration aims to reshape battery recycling efforts across the country, engaging communities in a shared commitment to environmental sustainability.

The initiative will see the implementation of highly visible recycling stations at Wisconsin Batteries Plus locations as well as an interactive booth at Lambeau Field that showcases and educates consumers on how to properly recycle batteries. Cirba Solutions, Batteries Plus’s preferred recycling partner for 14 years, will help facilitate the recycling process as the brand will encourage fans to visit their local Batteries Plus store to recycle their old and used batteries. The brand is also launching recycling contests with local schools, with the winning class from the selected school winning an exclusive Lambeau Field experience. As part of the launch, the interactive booth will be set up at select Packers games this season, including the preseason Family Night and games against the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals, where they can also enter to win exclusive Packers experiences and prizes.

"This grant is a step in our mission to make battery recycling accessible and mainstream," said Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus. "By eliminating recycling fees at our stores and developing advanced recycling workstations, we're removing barriers and making it easier for consumers to do their part in preserving both our natural resources and the strength of our domestic supply chain. We're excited to partner with the Department of Energy and the Green Bay Packers to bring this important message to a wider audience."

The Green Bay Packers, the winningest team in NFL history and staunchly community-supported organization, will help Batteries Plus reach even more people during this initiative. The first Batteries Plus location opened in Green Bay in 1988, and as Wisconsin-based organizations, the support will be closely knit prior to the initiative’s national rollout. This effort complements the Packers’ existing ‘Green Team’ sustainability efforts on gameday and every day at Lambeau Field.

“The Green Bay Packers are proud to be a part of this vital initiative,” said Aaron Popkey, Packers Director of Public Affairs. “As a team deeply rooted in the community, we recognize the importance of sustainability and are committed to promoting responsible recycling practices among our fans."

The Department of Energy entered discussions with Batteries Plus last month for the grant to help install portable consumer battery recycling drop-offs at their stores. On top of eliminating the costs for recycling batteries, the Department of Energy and Batteries Plus are committed to educating consumers on lithium battery recycling on a national scale in each community the brand operates, with an added focus on Justice40 communities. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was in attendance to show support for this initiative prior to its national rollout.

At the press conference, Secretary Granholm said, "This is a huge step in American energy independence and building a full American supply chain. We need to be extracting the critical materials in these batteries in a responsible way by recycling the materials we already have in our system. Partnering with Batteries Plus and a great football team like the Packers will create this cycle."

While the initiative is breaking ground in Wisconsin Batteries Plus locations and Lambeau Field, Batteries Plus will be rolling out the recycling initiative in a nationwide effort as well. For 30 years, Batteries Plus has been America's destination for battery recycling, annually processing 50 million pounds of batteries, including over 1 million pounds of lithium-based batteries—a number that continues to grow. Partnering with the Department of Energy and the Green Bay Packers gives Batteries Plus the opportunity to expand upon the processes already in place to make recycling batteries more mainstream and efficient in order to better protect the environment.

SOURCE Batteries Plus

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