THORNHILL, ON — Ontario motorists are encouraged to participate in a car battery disposal program being launched by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) during CAA's 'Great Battery Roundup.' Batteries can be dropped off on Saturday, October 20 at selected CAA-approved garages across Ontario that offer the Battery Assist program. In some areas of Ontario, motorists who are unable to drop off their used car batteries can call their local CAA club for pick-up during National Car Care Week from Monday, October 15 until Saturday, October 20.
The CAA kicked off its 'Great Battery Roundup' today at a news conference held at Electro Auto Electric, a CAA-approved repair facility. Supporters of the program who attended the event included Brian Clark, Regional Manager, Club Assist; Richard Leitch, General Manager, Canadian Wildlife Federation; and Toronto councillor Betty Disero, Ward 17 Davenport, Chair of Works Committee.
"Even though 95 per cent of all spent lead-acid batteries are recycled annually, there is still an estimated 400,000 old batteries not recycled each year," said Carey-Ann Greenham, Media and Public Relations Specialist, CAA Central Ontario. "Many of these batteries are illegally disposed of in dumps and water sources. Other batteries may be simply sitting in a forgotten corner of someone's property where they could contaminate soil and ground water, explode in a fire or become a source of lead poisoning to humans and animals."