Introduction: A Growing Need for Sustainable Logistics
Call2Recycle, Canada’s premier battery collection and recycling program, plays a crucial role in ensuring that used batteries are collected and processed safely. With battery consumption increasing across industries, Call2Recycle needed a trusted logistics partner to implement an efficient and compliant battery collection system in the Greater Toronto Area.
Managing hazardous materials requires precision, compliance, and real-time data tracking. Call2Recycle sought a logistics provider that could not only transport used batteries but also integrate digital tracking, optimize collection routes, and ensure seamless regulatory compliance.
OTS Group was awarded the contract to execute Battery Rover, a dedicated service designed to handle the complexities of battery transportation while improving efficiency and sustainability.
The Challenge: Compliance, Efficiency, and Service Agility
Managing a large-scale battery collection network is no small task. Call2Recycle faced several key challenges:
- Regulatory Compliance and Safety: Strict adherence to hazardous materials regulations, including proper labeling, handling, and storage requirements.
- Collection Site Management: Ensuring smooth operations across multiple locations, including retail stores, municipal centers, and corporate offices.
- Data Accuracy and Real-Time Tracking: Each collection required precise documentation of weight, location, and compliance reports.
- Service Agility and Scalability: The program needed the flexibility to add new sites, maintain specialized battery collection containers, and continuously improve service delivery based on operational insights.
- Customer Experience and Professionalism: As a public-facing service, it was essential that drivers and collection personnel were well-trained to provide professional, courteous service at every site.
To meet these challenges, Call2Recycle needed a logistics partner that could provide a seamless, scalable, and technologically integrated solution.
The Solution: A Fully Integrated Battery Rover Service
OTS Group developed a custom reverse logistics solution to address Call2Recycle’s needs. This approach combined specialized equipment, optimized logistics, and cutting-edge data management to create an efficient and compliant collection network.
Dedicated, Branded Battery Rover Vehicle: Equipped with integrated weighing scales for precise, on-site weight documentation, safety gear for compliance with hazardous material transport regulations, and mobile data capture technology for seamless digital record-keeping and real-time data sharing.
Route Optimization and Collection Efficiency: OTS Group designed a dynamic routing strategy that reduced travel time and fuel consumption through optimized route planning, incorporated flexible scheduling to allow both pre-planned and on-demand collections, and improved resource allocation by identifying peak collection times and locations.
Regulatory Compliance and Data Integration: A custom-built data management portal was developed to capture key collection details, including site ID, battery weight, and service notes. This system integrated seamlessly with Call2Recycle’s vendor portal for immediate data sharing and provided customized reporting to enhance transparency and optimize logistics performance.
Service Expansion and Maintenance: OTS Group played a proactive role in improving service delivery by rapidly onboarding new locations into the program with full compliance, maintaining smart containers to ensure the reliability of specialized battery collection units, and working closely with Call2Recycle to identify efficiencies and enhance the overall service experience.
Customer Service Training and Professionalism: Given the public-facing nature of the program, OTS Group emphasized comprehensive training for all field personnel. This included:
- Training on public interaction to ensure all team members could engage professionally and represent Call2Recycle’s values.
- Establishing consistent service standards for handling site visits, documentation, and issue resolution.
- Implementing a feedback system where collection sites could provide insights for continuous service improvement.
The Results: A Smarter, More Sustainable Battery Collection Network
Since implementing Battery Rover in the Greater Toronto Area, OTS Group has delivered outstanding results:
- 100% On-Time Collection Rate: Ensuring uninterrupted service across all locations.
- 100 % Compliance with Safety and Transport Regulations: Meeting all hazardous material transport requirements.
- Seamless Digital Integration: Enabling real-time tracking and transparent reporting.
- Sustainability Gains: Route optimizations led to measurable reductions in fuel usage and emissions.
- Agility and Scalability Achieved: The program expanded rapidly to new sites and regions, within installations happening usually within 48hrs, proving its ability to scale effectively.
- Improved Site Experience: Enhanced customer service training led to positive feedback from collection site managers.
Conclusion: A Model for Sustainable Reverse Logistics
Through innovation, compliance, and operational excellence, OTS Group has provided Call2Recycle with a scalable, efficient, and environmentally responsible logistics solution.
With the success of the Greater Toronto Area project, Call2Recycle is looking to expand its partnership with OTS Group to Alberta and Nova Scotia, further demonstrating the long-term value of the partnership.
OTS Group continues to lead in reverse logistics and sustainable transport, helping businesses optimize collection and recycling logistics while reducing their environmental impact. If you are looking for a Reverse Logistics Partner contact us today to learn how we can support your sustainable logistics goals.