AAA’s Great Battery Round-up set for Saturday

SALEM – Donating an old car battery can help make Massachusetts Bay cleaner.Rather than dumping obsolete batteries in the nearest stream or burying them in the backyard to avoid disposal charges, the American Automobile Association (AAA) of Southern New England will offer an innovative solution on Saturday, April 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at select locations, including Price Towing at 53 Canal St.Here’s how its Great Battery Round-up works: Bring a stray automotive or marine battery to one of the participating businesses where it can be safely stored and shipped to a recycling center, where it will be formed into new batteries. The round-up is being held in conjunction with Earth Day.Last year, AAA collected nearly 2,000 batteries and will again donate $2 to Save the Harbor-Save the Bay in Massachusetts and to Save the Bay in Rhode Island for every battery turned in.The AAA will also provide free battery testing service to those who want their existing battery checked for electrical charge.”The impact of vehicle maintenance on the environment can be an overlooked aspect of responsible vehicle ownership,” said John Nardolillo, AAA Southern New England vice president of automotive services. “With an estimated 230 million vehicles on the road in North America, the proper use and disposal of batteries, tires and various types of automotive fluids are crucial to a more healthy environment.”Used vehicle batteries containing both lead and sulfuric acid are a toxic danger to humans and the environment, as well as a potentially dangerous fire and safety hazard,” he said.Nearly 99 percent of an old battery can be recycled and used again without removing new lead, or other natural resources from the environment. More than 5 million batteries are not returned for recycling each year and instead are illegally disposed of in landfills and water sources, said Lloyd P. Albert, AAA senior vice president of public and government affairs. “Many more are simply sitting in a forgotten corner of someone’s property where they could contaminate soil and groundwater, explode in a fire, or become a source of lead poisoning to humans and animals.AAA recommends consumers wear gloves and safety glasses when handling batteries, keep them upright and in a cardboard box or plastic container when in transit.Other North Shore businesses participating in the battery round-up are Tally’s Truck Center at 2 Washington St. in Gloucester; Mel’s Automotive at 80 Tremont St. in Everett; and Franklin Auto Transport at 490 Main St. in Stoneham.