Hamilton – AAA Mid-Atlantic, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, is planting as many as 2,000 trees in a National Forest to represent the vehicle batteries the auto club recycles. Nationally, AAA has recycled more than 12 million automotive batteries and continues to promote the importance of recycling this essential automotive part that gets replaced each year by 100 million U.S. motorists. Improperly stored or disposed of car batteries create health, fire and safety hazards for humans, animals and the environment. Regionally, AAA Mid-Atlantic recycled more than 143,800 batteries in 2015 throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
“AAA understands the tremendous environmental impact recycling car batteries has in terms of reducing toxic waste and unnecessary production of new materials. The average new car battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. Lead-acid batteries are among the most recycled items on the planet, and AAA is pleased to be a part of the solution,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
Upon the completion of this year’s recycling program, AAA Mid-Atlantic will have planted more than 7,500 trees in the last seven years. The tree plantings are made possible through the Arbor Day Foundation, a non-profit conservation and education organization.
AAA Mid-Atlantic supports “green” business practices year round with a fleet of 18 compressed natural gas (CNG), 2 fully electric and 9 hybrid service vehicles. Hybrid and electric vehicles in the fleet can perform jump starts, handle flat tires, fuel delivery and lockouts. The CNG vehicles handle all of the above, plus battery delivery and jump starts.
“AAA Mid-Atlantic is pleased to do its part in recycling used car batteries to help protect the earth, and to help sustain the environment by contributing to the greening of America through the planting of trees and the use of “green” service vehicles,” said Noble.
For more information, please visit web site at www.AAA.com.
