Auto club recycles batteries, plants trees and utilizes “green” service vehicles
A dead car battery can bring the blues, though this time of year AAA Roadside Assistance and AAA Car Care Centers will help motorists see green with the Club’s annual Earth Day efforts. Here’s how we made a difference…
Batteries and Trees
As part of AAA Mid-Atlantic’s annual Earth Day recognition, the Club planned to plant approximately 2,550 trees, one for each battery recycled by Members, at the roadside or at an AAA repair facility, between April 17 and 23. In addition, customers who visited any AAA Mid-Atlantic Store, or one of the Club’s 31 Car Care, Insurance and Travel Centers, could also help plant a tree with a donation of $1 or more. All trees were to be planted in National Forests through the Arbor Day Foundation, a non-profit conservation and education organization.
| *Earth Day Update* We surpassed our goal of planting 2,550 Trees for Earth Day! We planted 3,494 trees this year. That's a 39% increase from 2016. Since 2011, we have planted 9,357 trees. Looks like we are well on our way to the 10,000 mark! |
“AAA understands the tremendous environmental impact recycling car batteries has in terms of reducing toxic waste and unnecessary production of new materials,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Sixty to 80 percent of car batteries consist of hard rubber or plastic. The lead and sulfuric acid can also be recycled. Recycling lessens the demand for original materials required for new products.”
Environmental responsibility is standard operating procedure for the AAA Battery Service programs. The Club first began its mobile battery recycling efforts in 1997, and last year, recycled approximately 1.75 million batteries nationally. Regionally, AAA Mid-Atlantic recycled more than 149,000 batteries last year throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
“Green” Machines
In addition to the car battery recycling program, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s other “green” business practice includes utilizing a fleet of 24 compressed natural gas (CNG), two electric, and 11 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 also recently added the first of its kind Ford 2017 F-650 propane powered flatbed to the auto club’s Philadelphia area fleet. This propane-fueled truck has the equivalent horsepower, torque and towing capacity of gasoline versions of the same model. Before arriving in Philadelphia, the new flatbed was featured in last month’s National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) truck show.
“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.