PARIS, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- 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."

About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions that deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 17.8 billion in 2007 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

About Alcatel-Lucent and Climate Change
As a good corporate citizen, Alcatel-Lucent is committed to eco-sustainability with a particular focus on climate change. The company leverages its research and innovation teams to develop groundbreaking, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies and to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. As a leading global telecommunications player, Alcatel-Lucent engages actively with its key stakeholders including customers and suppliers to address eco-sustainability and climate change issues throughout the entire supply chain. Alcatel-Lucent has signed the UN Global Compact "Caring for Climate" initiative and has been awarded the 2008 SAM Silver Sustainability Recognition.

Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent is at the forefront of global communications, providing products and innovations in IP and cloud networking, as well as ultra-broadband fixed and wireless access to service providers and their customers, enterprises and institutions throughout the world.

Underpinning Alcatel-Lucent in driving the industrial transformation from voice telephony to high-speed digital delivery of data, video and information is Bell Labs, an integral part of Alcatel-Lucent and one of the world's foremost technology research institutes, responsible for countless breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Alcatel-Lucent innovations have resulted in the company being recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Top 100 Global Innovator, as well as being named by MIT Technology Review as amongst 2012's Top 50 World's Most Innovative Companies. Alcatel-Lucent has also been recognized for innovation in sustainability, being ranked Technology Supersector Leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in 2012 for making global communications more sustainable, affordable and accessible, all in pursuit of the company's mission to realize the potential of a connected world.

With revenues of Euro 14.4 billion in 2012, Alcatel-Lucent is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges (Euronext and NYSE: ALU).

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