Call2Recycle and EDI debut advanced technology to grow Ontario battery sorting plant capacity

Call2Recycle, in partnership with electronics recycler Electronic Distributors International Inc. (EDI), has unveiled an advancement in battery sorting technology that will improve Ontario's capacity to sort and recycle end-of-life batteries. 

The investment supports Call2Recycle and EDI's strategies to invest in competitive battery recycling infrastructure to increase efficiency, enhance safety, and help meet 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 percent in 2023), where Call2Recycle serves as the largest battery Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).

Canadian provinces and territories are stepping up recycling policies and objectives, and 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."

Since its inception in 1997, the Call2Recycle program has safely collected and responsibly recycled over 45 million kilograms of batteries, preventing them from ending up in Canadian landfills. To maximize battery collection and recycling efforts in Ontario and across Canada, Call2Recycle relies on high-quality, efficient sorting processes and innovation to ensure that batteries are properly separated, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource recovery as part of the circular economy.