Denver, April 9, 2009 - AAA Colorado is supporting Earth Day 2009 by again sponsoring a battery recycling effort. From Wednesday, April 22 through Saturday, April 25, consumers can bring car batteries to Maaco, 4910 Oneida St., Commerce City, for recycling as part of the Great Battery Round-up.
Batteries that power vehicles are now the most highly recycled consumer products, according to the Battery Council International. A typical car battery contains 21 pounds of lead, plastic and sulfuric acid. Improper disposal can put these toxic substances into landfills and groundwater.
Spent batteries are often being illegally disposed of in dumpsters or simply stored by consumers. However, at least 97 percent of the lead in an automotive battery can be reclaimed and used to manufacture a new battery. The lead is recycled and reused indefinitely. The sulfuric acid can be recycled and used in new batteries; it can be neutralized, purified and tested before being released as clean water; or it can be converted to sodium sulfate, a product used in fertilizer, dyes and other products. Most battery cases are black because the cases have been made from plastic recycled from spent battery cases.
AAA recommends that consumers wear gloves and safety glasses when handling batteries. Keep batteries upright and place them in a sturdy box or plastic container when transporting them for recycling. If the battery case is leaking, be especially carefully to choose a leak-proof container. Do not smoke near or expose the batteries to an open flame.
Doing its part to save and protect the earth, AAA and its automotive partners have recycled more than 2 million batteries since 2001. A complete list of AAA Colorado Great Battery Round-up drop-off sites can be found at www.AAA.com.
AAA Colorado has more than 525,000 in-state members and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings.