South Country Co-op Launches Battery Recycling Program

At South Country Co-op, our purpose is Enriching Lives and Communities—and that includes protecting the environment we all share. That’s why we’re proud to announce the official launch of the Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program across all South Country Co-op retail locations in partnership with Call2Recycle Canada.

As of this July,  24 of our South Country Co-op sites, including food stores, gas bars, and hardware locations—are now active drop-off points for used household batteries, making it easier than ever for Albertans to safely and responsibly recycle.

This milestone makes South Country Co-op the first Co-op in the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) to implement the program province-wide—demonstrating leadership in sustainability and a continued commitment to community well-being.

“By joining forces with Call2Recycle, we’re making it easier for our members and customers to make environmentally responsible choices every day, right where they shop,” says Heather Smith-Schenkey, Health, Safety & Environment Manager at South Country Co-op.

The program features convenient in-store collection boxes and educational signage to help customers understand how and why to recycle their batteries—keeping harmful materials out of landfills and reducing potential safety hazards.

Launched in Alberta in April 2025, Call2Recycle’s expansion into Southern Alberta is already having an impact. By teaming up with local retailers like South Country Co-op, Call2Recycle is improving accessibility to battery recycling in both rural and urban communities.

“We’re proud to support South Country Co-op as they lead the way in battery stewardship within the Co-operative Retailing System,” says Joseph Chung, VP of Account Management at Call2Recycle. “This is a great example of how local Co-ops can drive meaningful environmental action in their communities.”
Together, South Country Co-op and Call2Recycle are setting a new standard for what’s possible when business and community come together for the greater good. We hope this initiative will inspire other Co-ops and retailers to join the movement toward a cleaner, safer Alberta.

Got batteries? Bring your used household batteries to any participating South Country Co-op location. To learn more about what types of batteries are accepted and why recycling matters, visit www.call2recycle.ca.

Call2Recycle is Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling organization, committed to environmental excellence and circular economy practices. With a network of over 15,000 collection sites, Call2Recycle has safely diverted over 50 million kilograms of batteries from Canadian landfills since 1997.