AAA to Round Up Used Vehicle Batteries in Earth Week Recycling Effort

BELLEVUE, Wash., April 16 -- AAA will observe Earth Day by asking area motorists to scour garages, backyards and storage sheds for used lead-acid batteries, and bring them to designated AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities from April 21 - 25.

"With an estimated 230 million vehicles on the road in North America, the proper use and disposal of vehicle batteries is crucial to a healthy environment," said Don Beyer, business development manager, Automotive Services, AAA Washington/Inland. "Nearly 99 percent of a vehicle battery can be recycled and used again. Unfortunately, more than five million vehicle batteries are not returned for recycling each year."

Many of these batteries are illegally disposed of 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 in humans and animals.

AAA requests motorists wear gloves and safety glasses when handling batteries, keep them upright and place batteries in a sturdy 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.

See the list below for your local AAA Approved Auto Repair facility battery drop-off location. More information on the AAA Great Battery Round Up is available at www.aaa.com.

AAA Washington/Inland provides over 820,000 members in Washington and northern Idaho a full range of products and benefits, including travel agencies, personal lines insurance agencies, a range of auto-related services, and member discounts on many consumer products and services. A not-for-profit organization, AAA also assists travelers through its highway and transportation safety and legislative advocacy programs. More information about AAA is available on the company's website at www.aaa.com.

              AAA Great Battery Round Up Drop Off Locations

  BELLEVUE:
   Barney & Al's Chevron, 1649 Bellevue Way
   AutoLogic, 1407 132nd NE

  BELLINGHAM:
   Diehl Ford, 1820 James St

  BREMERTON:
   L & R Automotive, 1112-A Pearl St.

  COEUR D'ALENE:
   Sunset Motors, 280 W. Kathleen

  EVERETT:
   Everett Auto Clinic, 3132 Rucker

  FEDERAL WAY:
   Big O Tires 4 Less, 34611 16th Ave S

  ISSAQUAH:
   Autoworks of Issaquah, 1590 NW Mall St

  KENNEWICK:
   Motoring Services, 8920 W Victoria

  LEWISTON:
   My Mechanic, 149 Thain Road

  LYNNWOOD:
   Dave's Lynnwood Automotive, 20000 44th Ave W

  MOSES LAKE:
   Scotty's Auto Repair, 1625 Wheeler Road

  MOUNT VERNON:
   College Way, 76 212 E College Way

  OLYMPIA:
   Brazel Automotive, 2107 Automall Dr.

  PUYALLUP:
   Big O Tires 4 Less, 7728 River Rd E

  REDMOND:
   AA Auto Service, 8004 Avondale Way

  RENTON:
   TAS Precision Rebuild, 4000 E. Valley Rd.

  RICHLAND:
   Motoring Services, 327 Wellsian Way

  SANDPOINT:
   Perfection Tire Company, 476927 Hwy 95 North

  SEATTLE:
   Big O Tires 4 Less, 2701 4th Ave S
   Lake City Autoworks, 2825 NE 120th
   Doctor Don's, 1136 NW 50th

  SNOHOMISH:
   L & B Auto Repair, 8023 79th Ave SE

  SPOKANE:
   Divine's Auto Center, 203 W. Third Ave.
   Divine's Auto Center, 3725 S. Grand
   Divine's Auto Center, 925 E. Wellesley
   Divine's Auto Center, 1520 N. Pines

  TACOMA:
   McCabe's Automotive, 3147 Bridgeport Way N

  VANCOUVER:
   Don Lorentz Auto Care, 1714 Broadway St.

  WALLA WALLA:
   Luttrell's Auto Center, 927 W. Rose

  WENATCHEE:
   Brian's Automotive Alternative, 317 Orondo

  YAKIMA:
   Toyota of Yakima, 914 S 1st