Makita US leads the charge with battery recycling programme

The proliferation of cordless power tools has revolutionised work places and construction sites, but the impact of batteries at end of life is an environmental concern, to say the least.

Makita is among the power tool brands leading the sustainability charge with a USA battery recycling programme that has just earned it a Leader in Sustainability Award from Call2Recycle.

Makita diverted 7.2 million pounds of batteries from US landfill through consumer battery recycling programme Call2Recycle, in 2018 alone. Since the mid-1990s, Makita has worked with Call2Recycle to develop new ways to collect, package and ship used batteries at the end of their lifecycle to recycling centres.

“Makita’s active participation in the Call2Recycle program underscores their work to encourage and promote sustainability,” said Carl Smith, CEO & president of Call2Recycle, Inc. “We’re proud to recognise Makita as a leader in sustainability and spotlight their battery recycling contributions.”

Wayne Hart, communications manager, Makita USA, added: “Makita is the innovation leader in cordless, and as we deliver more and more battery-powered tools to contractors we recognize the need to recycle batteries at the end of their life cycle. Makita was one of the first power tool manufacturers to join Call2Recycle in these efforts, and we pioneered battery recycling programs through our service centers. Makita is proud of these efforts and remains committed to working with Call2Recycle on this important initiative.”

Makita lithium-ion batteries carry the Call2Recycle Battery Seal, which includes a toll-free phone number to locate a US battery collection site.

PICTURED: Makita U.S.A. President Terry Nozawa (left) accepts the 2018 Call2Recycle Leader in Sustainability Award from Sean Burchill, Western Account Manager for Call2Recycle.