Fastenal Partners With The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) to Recycle Rechargeable Batteries and Cell Phones at All North America Retail Locations

ATLANTA, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries, and Fastenal, a leading full-line industrial distributor and North America's premiere distributor of fasteners, today announced a new partnership that integrates RBRC's recycling program, Call2Recycle(TM), into more than 1,900 Fastenal stores throughout the U.S.

By joining Call2Recycle, Fastenal is helping to protect the environment by making recycling rechargeable batteries and cell phones simple and convenient for its customers. Beginning this month, customers can drop off their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones in designated Call2Recycle collection boxes in participating Fastenal stores. The rechargeable batteries collected will then be sent back to RBRC's recycling facility for proper disposal at no cost to the consumer, or to Fastenal.

"We are pleased that Fastenal has incorporated RBRC's Call2Recycle program into its stores," said Doug Smith, Chairman of the RBRC Board of Directors and Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs for Sony Electronics. "Our hope is that with each new retail partner, consumers realize how simple and easy it is to recycle rechargeable batteries. The added collection sites at Fastenal stores enable even more communities to participate in recycling programs and take an active role in protecting the environment."

"Fastenal strongly believes in customer service and providing customers with the highest quality products and services," said Shawn Wibben, Power Tools and Accessories Senior Product Manager, Fastenal. "By joining RBRC's Call2Recycle program we are now able to offer a free and convenient way for our customers to recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones, which is crucial to preserving our environment."

Call2Recycle is the most comprehensive cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling program nationwide. The program provides a convenient way to collect and recycle old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products, such as laptop computers, cordless power tools, two-way radios, cordless and cellular phones, digital cameras and camcorders. With the addition of Fastenal's stores, Call2Recycle adds to the more than 50,000 enrolled collection sites throughout the U.S. and Canada where used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones can be brought for recycling.

Fastenal owns and operates more than 2,200 stores in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Europe and China. To find participating Fastenal stores, visit www.fastenal.com.

For more information and local collections sites, call toll-free 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.

About RBRC:

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) is a nonprofit, public service organization dedicated to rechargeable battery recycling. There are over 50,000 retail, business, and community collection locations enrolled in RBRC's rechargeable battery recycling program throughout Canada and the United States. RBRC is funded by more than 350 manufacturers and marketers of portable rechargeable batteries and products. RBRC's public education campaign and recycling program is the result of the rechargeable power industry's commitment to conserve natural resources and prevent rechargeable batteries from entering the solid waste stream. In pursuit of its mission, RBRC also collects old cell phones. Cell phones collected through the Call2Recycle(TM) program will be recycled or refurbished and resold when possible with a portion of the proceeds benefiting select charities. Contributions or gifts to RBRC are not tax deductible. For more information, call 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.

About Fastenal:

Founded in 1967 in Winona, MN, Fastenal (www.fastenal.com) has expanded to become the fastest growing full-line industrial distributor, and is now the largest fastener distributor in the nation. Fastenal's business network includes an in-house manufacturing division, a product quality assurance and engineering department, a strategic system of 12 distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada, and more than 275 company-owned semi-trucks and trailers. Fastenal owns and operates more than 2,200 stores in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Europe, and China.