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E very year in Northern
California, more than 200,000 dead car batteries never find
their way to recycling plants. Instead, they sit in garages,
hide in sheds, rust in carports, and contaminate backyards.
To commemorate Earth Day, AAA of Northern California
is launching the "Great Battery Roundup," in an
effort to collect and recycle toxic car batteries that are
a hazard to people and the environment.
"These batteries can be extremely dangerous,"
said AAA spokesman Atle Erlingsson. "This is the perfect
opportunity to safely remove and recycle that hazard from
your home and neighborhood."
The average car battery is filled with 21 pounds
of lead and one gallon of sulfuric acid. AAA warns that acid
escaping through cracks can cause painful injuries to curious
children or animals. Leaking lead eventually seeps into the
ground, polluting the soil. But even though batteries are
dangerous, AAA says they are easily recyclable.
"More than 99 percent of a vehicle battery
can be completely recycled and used again," said Erlingsson.
Nationwide, 95 percent of car batteries are recycled
each year. The remaining five percent - more than five million
batteries - end up contaminating backyards and local creek
beds.
AAA is asking people to search their garages,
sheds, backyards, and other areas for lone batteries. During
the week of April 15-20, AAA will collect the batteries at
27 safe drop-off sites throughout Northern California. For
every battery turned in, AAA will donate up to $2 to a local
non-profit environmental organization in the area.
In Fairfield, the recipient will be the International
Bird Research Rescue Center.
Media contact:
Karen Benzel
Office: (831) 622-7588
E-mail: karen@ibrrc.org
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