Air Canada has 28,000 employees across the world, serving more than 38 million passengers annually (along with its partners) and providing direct passenger service to more than 190 destinations worldwide. Like most companies today, mobile and other portable technology is essential to keepings its operations running efficiently. That means there are a lot of batteries to recycle. In fact, the company has collected more than 3,300 lbs. (1,500 kg) since joining the program last August.
We spent a few minutes talking with Chelsea Quirke, Air Canada’s Environmental Waste Programs Manager, to get a behind–the-scenes look at the airline’s battery recycling program.
What locations are participating in the program?
About 45 locations in 15 different cities across Canada. We have many different types of facilities: offices, call centers, warehouses, hangars and airports. We use the Call2Recycle boxes in all these locations.
Which location recycles the most batteries?
Our biggest contributors are from maintenance hangars and airports. They use lots of cordless power tools, flashlights and mobile devices. Their feedback on the program is very positive.
What was your biggest surprise in implementing the program?
That every location is unique. For example, shipping to and from remote locations like St John’s, Newfoundland, is slower because the collections are infrequent and the mail is slower. Contrast that to our Toronto location where boxes are filled in a day. It’s important to monitor the replenishment point for each location.
Were there any bumps in the road?
We transitioned from drums to boxes, so we struggled at first to make sure we had the right number of boxes in the right locations with replacements arriving at the right times. Some operations were recycling batteries a lot faster than we anticipated. We now keep an inventory of boxes. The box in a box program has been great because the extra boxes don’t take up a lot of storage space. Plus, I don’t need to oversee the program at all locations. I encourage locations to call Call2Reycle Customer Service directly to ask for boxes or resolve other issues.
Any advice for other companies in the program?
Identify factors that will complicate your logistics. In our case, not every location has access to roadside pickup and delivery. Because some of our operations occur behind a security gate, we have to coordinate the transportation of their boxes to another operation nearby that is accessible to the public. We then have to identify someone in charge of moving the boxes, particularly someone who is able to lift the weight.
Also pick your locations wisely. Think about where people are going to be, how and where the boxes will be transported and the aesthetics of the area. I have to make sure boxes in office spaces and lobbies are tidy looking for guests.
Finally, invite your employees to bring in their batteries from home. It’s a great way to encourage recycling beyond the workplace.
What do you like most about the Call2Recycle program?
The program has a lot of strengths. Most important, it provides a reliable end-of-life solution.
The collection reports are also useful because they establish a baseline and enable us to track against this baseline over time. Finally, the program is free. We were paying a hazardous waste company to recycle and now we can use that money on other environmental initiatives. You can’t beat that!
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