[0] AAA Great Battery Roundup; Round Up, Remove and Recycle Old Car Batteries April 16-22; Rid this Toxic Hazard from Our Environment, AAA Urges.

Business Editors/Transportation & Environmental Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2001

In observance of Earth Day, AAA urges Sacramento area motorists to remove one of the most toxic disposable consumer products from the environment -- dead car and boat batteries -- during the first annual AAA Great Battery Roundup, April 16-22.

Part of a nationwide environmental campaign by 18 AAA clubs, the AAA Great Battery Roundup in Northern California and Nevada encourages the public to bring old used car batteries to designated AAA auto service facilities, where they will be safely recycled into new batteries.

"Used vehicle batteries lurking in your garage or back yard contain lead and sulfuric acid and are highly toxic to humans, animals, and the environment," said Mark Woods, general manager, AAA Car Care Plus. "They could also explode in a fire. AAA is asking people to search their garages, sheds, back yards and other areas for used car and boat batteries and bring them to selected AAA service shops for recycling."

For each battery turned in, AAA will donate up to $4 to The Nature Conservancy of California, along with an additional $1.50 for every battery sold during the week of April 16-22.

Seven million vehicle batteries in the U.S. are not recycled each year. Many of these batteries are illegally disposed in dumps and water sources, but many more are simply sitting in a forgotten corner of someone's property where they could contaminate soil and ground water, explode in a fire or become a source of lead poisoning to humans and animals. Nearly 99 percent of a vehicle battery can be recycled and used again without removing new lead, or other natural resources from the environment.

AAA recommends consumers wear gloves and safety glasses when handling batteries, keep them upright and place batteries in a cardboard box or plastic container when transporting them for recycling. If the battery case is cracked or leaking, be especially careful to choose a leak-proof container. Do not smoke near or expose the batteries to an open flame, and make certain they will not shift and tip over in a moving vehicle. Full details on the roundup are on www.csaa.com

Sacramento Locations (April 16-22)

also occurring in San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Clara, Reno, Las Vegas and other cities across the U.S.

AAA Car Care Plus Auto Repair Facility,

49 Bicentennial Circle, Sacramento,

(one block east of Power Inn Road/Folsom Blvd.);

Mon. to Fri., 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat.: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.;

Sun.: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Auto Guardian

8687 Weyand Ave., Sacramento (cross-street is Florin-Perkins Road)

Mon. to Fri., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sat.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.;

Sun.: Battery recycle drop-off box is available

Established 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. The California State Automobile Association serves 4 million members and is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.

EDITORS: Full release and Battery Fact Sheet can be found on www.csaa.com/about/pressreleases/P041201-CA_NV_UT.asp