Dear Editor: As North America’s largest provider of emergency road service — including battery jump starts — AAA used the occasion on Earth Day, April 22, to urge greater care in disposing of and recycling lead-acid automotive and marine batteries. While 99 percent of a typical lead-acid battery can be recycled, its toxic and potentially explosive contents make proper disposal even more imperative than the recycling of other consumable items such as bottles, cans and newspapers. “Another factor making proper recycling of lead-acid batteries extra important is that batteries can be a source of water and soil pollution when they are allowed to discharge their contents into the ground,” according to William Patterson, vice president of AAA North Jersey. “Batteries dumped into lakes, rivers or oceans also harm water quality for humans and marine life.” AAA responds to nearly five million requests for assistance with battery and charging system failures each year and estimates nearly 100 million batteries are disposed of annually by motorists, truckers and boaters. “The good news about battery recycling is approximately 95 percent of all batteries find their way back to recycling plants,” Patterson said. “The bad news is that an estimated five million batteries are not being recycled each year. Over time this accumulation of non-recycled lead becomes a significant environmental problem with much of it leaking into land fills, backyards and water sources.” Consumers seeking battery recycling should return failed batteries to auto repair facilities or automotive part stores that retail new batteries. Most independent repair facilities. Associated with AAA”s Approved Auto Repair network accept old batteries, if they also sell replacements. NAPA auto parts stores, which offer discounts to AAA members, can also ensure failed batteries are properly recycled. AAA North Jersey