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AAA Urges Special Care in Disposing and Recycling Lead-Acid Batteries

18 April 2000

AAA Urges Special Care in Disposing and Recycling Lead-Acid Batteries

    ORLANDO, Fla., April 17 As North America's largest
provider of emergency road service -- including battery jump starts -- AAA is
using the occasion of Earth Day, April 22, to urge greater care in disposing
of and recycling lead-acid automotive and marine batteries.
    While 99 percent of a typical lead-acid battery can be recycled, its toxic
and potentially explosive contents make proper disposal even more imperative
than the recycling of other consumable items such as bottles, cans and
newspapers.
    "Another factor making proper recycling of lead-acid batteries extra
important is that batteries can be a source of water and soil pollution when
they are allowed to discharge their contents into the ground," according to
Margaret Pittelkow, managing director, AAA Emergency Road Service Network.
"Batteries dumped into lakes, rivers or oceans also harm water quality for
humans and marine life."
    AAA responds to nearly 5 million requests for assistance with battery and
charging system failures each year and estimates nearly 100 million batteries
are disposed of annually by motorists, truckers and boaters.
    "The good news about battery recycling is approximately 95 percent of all
batteries find their way back to recycling plants," Pittelkow said.  "The bad
news is that an estimated 5 million batteries are not being recycled each
year.  Over time this accumulation of non-recycled lead becomes a significant
environmental problem with much of it leaching into land-fills, backyards and
water sources."
    AAA clubs in some areas have begun offering a new service that provides
roadside battery testing and replacement, if necessary.
    "This service helps reduce the impact of lead-acid batteries on the
environment by preventing the needless replacement of batteries that simply
need recharging," Pittelkow said.  "The service also recycles a failed battery
for every new battery that is sold, eliminating the possibility of improper
disposal.
    "Additionally the manufacturer of AAA's batteries, GNB Technologies, is
the only North American battery manufacturer that owns and operates its own
recycling facilities," she said.  "This means AAA members can be certain their
old batteries are being properly recycled."
    AAA expects the roadside battery service to grow as consumer awareness of
its convenience and environmental soundness increases.
    Consumers seeking other battery recycling alternatives should return
failed batteries to auto repair facilities or automotive part stores that
retail new batteries.  Most independent repair facilities associated with
AAA's Approved Auto Repair network accept old batteries, if they also sell
replacements.  NAPA auto part stores, which offer discounts to AAA members,
can also ensure failed batteries are properly recycled.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA
provides its 43 million members with travel, insurance, financial and
automotive-related services.  Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a
leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
    AAA news releases are available from http://www.aaa.com/news .