Major battery brands ordered to pay Ontario millions in new ruling

Energizer, Duracell and Panasonic have been ordered to pay a total of nearly $3 million for missing recycling targets in Ontario.

As reported by The Toronto Star, the province's Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) has slapped fines on the leading battery manufacturers. Energizer and Duracell will each have to pay $1 million, while Panasonic must fork over $781,725.

Speaking to The Star, the RPRA explained that the three companies recycled only 19 per cent of the single-use batteries they sold in Ontario in 2023 — well below the 40 per cent target. The authority added that the companies were "insufficiently responsive to our previous efforts to encourage their compliance with Ontario's recycling laws."

However, the non-profit organization Call2Recycle Canada called the ruling "punitive and unwarranted" and noted that the companies are planning an appeal. They'll have two weeks to do so.

Speaking to the outlet Call2Recycle argued that the provincial government's recent changes to remove separate targets for single-use and rechargeable batteries "made compliance unnecessarily complex" and "failed to recognize the collective efforts and results of the industry."

It remains to be seen what will come out of these appeals. In the meantime, you can read more on how to recycle batteries in your area if you're unsure.

Organizations like Call2Recycle and Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! have tools that help you find places near you to dispose of your used batteries for recycling.