SIOUX FALLS, SD – April 20, 2021 – As part of AAA South Dakota’s “green” initiatives and in honor of Earth Day (April 22) and National Arbor Day (April 30), the auto club will once again fund tree plantings for the responsible recycling of old car batteries when a new one is replaced by AAA’s Emergency Roadside Service from April 19 through May 2. 

Additionally, customers who visit any AAA South Dakota retail store now through May 2 can also support a tree planting with a donation of $1 or more. All trees will be planted in National Forests through the Arbor Day Foundation, a non-profit conservation and education organization. For store locations, visit AAA.com/Locations.

While the Batteries for Trees program was on hiatus last year due to COVID-19, the 2019 initiative resulted in AAA supporting the planting of 6,000 trees, an increase of 36 percent from the 4,400 tree plantings in 2018. 

This year’s program will expand to include tree plantings in recognition of AAA Associates for their green activities and volunteerism efforts throughout the month of April. With this additional engagement, AAA’s tree planting goal for this year’s effort increases to 8,000 from the previous 6,000 goal. Since 2011, AAA has contributed to the planting of nearly 20,000 trees.

“AAA and our Associates recognize the environmental importance in recycling used car batteries and in engaging in ‘green’ practices,” said Amber Zionkowski, Corporate Citizenship Manager. “We are proud of these efforts that will help restore our earth, including the contribution to the greening of America through the planting of trees.”

Nearly 100 percent of a car battery can be recycled due to its three major components – lead, plastic, and sulfuric acid – which can be safely recycled. Recycling reduces toxic waste and lessens the demand for original materials required for new products. AAA South Dakota’s car battery supplier, Battery Service Solutions, collects and recycles all of the club’s spent batteries, and is a partner in this year’s Batteries for Trees campaign.

During 2020, battery-related issues were one of the key breakdown challenges for drivers, as their vehicles sat idle at home for long periods of time due to the pandemic. AAA South Dakota replaced and recycled nearly 400 car batteries across its territory in 2020, a 44% increase over 2019.

This year, as more drivers are starting up their engines, as a result of increased vaccinations, decreased pandemic restrictions, and now the warmer weather, car battery-related issues continue to be a top breakdown issue. For first quarter of 2021, AAA South Dakota has replaced and recycled nearly 110 car batteries, an increase of 27% over the same quarter in 2020.