AUTO CLUB READY TO ROUND UP OLD CAR BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING.

Byline: Daily News

SANTA CLARITA - Residents are encouraged to recycle old vehicle batteries during the Automobile Club of Southern California's Great Battery Roundup, today through April 24.

The auto club's Santa Clarita office is urging local motorists to scour garages, carports and yards for used car, truck, motorcycle, boat or airplane batteries, and to take them to a designated recycling site so that they do not endanger the environment.

For each battery ``rounded up'' and returned to the auto club's designated recycling sites, the AAA Battery Service will donate $1.50 to aid fire restoration efforts in the Southern California areas damaged in the 2003 firestorms.

The auto club has set up 93 collection locations throughout Southern California, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the week. While the Santa Clarita office is not accepting batteries, a collection site is located nearby at Lion's Towing, in the 76 station at 25835 N. San Fernando Road, Newhall.

The goal of the auto-club campaign is to collect 5,000 batteries throughout Southern California. The battery campaign is a national recycling effort for AAA affiliates.

``The impact of vehicle maintenance on the environment can be an overlooked aspect of responsible vehicle ownership,'' said Kelly Clark, the auto club's Santa Clarita district office manager. ``With an estimated 210 million vehicles on the road in the U.S., the proper use and disposal of vehicle batteries, tires and various types of automotive fluids are crucial to a healthy environment.''

Leaking acid can be a source of poisoning for children and animals. Leaking lead eventually seeps into the ground and pollutes the soil, contaminating back yards and water runoff, according to Clark. Battery explosives can cause painful chemical-burn injuries, Clark added.

Many batteries are illegally disposed of in dumps and water sources, but many more are simply forgotten in someone's garage, carport, yard, storage unit or shed, where they could contaminate soil and ground water, explode in a fire or become a source of lead poisoning to people and pets.

The auto club requests that:

--Consumers wear leather or protective gloves and safety glasses when handling batteries.

--Those transporting dead batteries for recycling keep batteries upright and place them in a sturdy box or plastic container.

--If the battery or case is cracked or leaking, be especially careful to choose a leak-proof container.

--Consumers should not smoke near, or expose batteries to, an open flame and should make certain the batteries will not shift and tip over in a moving vehicle.

Individual consumers who have multiple batteries in need of pickup and recycling can call one of the 93 collection points and request transportation assistance during the Great Battery Roundup. A list of the 93 safe drop-off locations can be found at www.aaa-calif.com or at the Santa Clarita club office, 23770 Valencia Blvd., Valencia.

``Nearly 95 percent of a vehicle battery can be recycled, including reusing the lead,'' said Steve Mazor, the auto club's principal automotive engineer. ``Unfortunately, more than 5 million vehicle batteries are not returned for recycling each year.''

During the rest of the year, the AAA Battery Service will support the effort by removing a used battery for recycling each time it installs a replacement battery for an auto club member.