EPA honors Alcatel-Lucent for its work in recycling chemicals used in batteries needed to power communications systems

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) as one of its National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) partners for its work in preventing harmful chemicals from entering the environment.

The EPA recognized the company for the success of battery recycling programs that were initiated three years ago and have resulted in the recycling of more than 2 million pounds of lead from lead acid batteries.

The batteries are part of the backup power systems for telecommunications networks and help ensure that in emergency situations, such as a hurricane or other natural disaster, communications networks continue to operate and can support, among other things, public service needs such as 911 services.

Alcatel-Lucent established its battery maintenance, installation and removal, transportation and recycling program across the U.S., to ensure that these batteries are properly managed and recycled. The goal was to prevent potentially harmful chemicals from lead-acid batteries from entering the nation’s waste stream, and instead be available to be used again in new batteries.

"Corporate social responsibility is one of our core corporate values and taking steps to protect our environment is a critical component of that imperative” said Barry Dambach, Alcatel-Lucent Director for Corporate Environment Health and Services. “For our battery recycling program we worked with our customers, major communications service providers throughout the country, to ensure that the lead they need to use is managed in a way that protects and preserves our environment. We are pleased at the recognition the EPA has given us for this program, but even more so at the fact that the program we put in place has proved to be an effective way to protect the environment through increased recycling.”

Alcatel-Lucent participated in the EPA’s NPEP program, which is designed to work with companies interested in taking significant steps in reducing or removing priority chemicals, such as lead and mercury. Alcatel-Lucent was one of 29 NPEP partners recognized. This year’s award winners reported reductions of more than 9 million pounds of priority and other environmentally harmful chemicals, far exceeding the amount reported last year.

“Americans from all sectors of society are embracing the fact that environmental stewardship is a responsibility we all share together,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Communities, companies, organizations and individuals are taking voluntary actions that not only enhance environmental quality and human health, but set a ‘green’ example for others to follow.”