This Week's Column: Old Car Batteries
They collect dust sitting inside garages or backyard sheds. Sometimes you'll find one or two stacked down in a cold, damp basement.
Let's hope the grandkids or the dog won't get to them first. An inquisitive second-grader might find himself taking a trip to the hospital.
Old or damaged car batteries, long since removed from the engine block of vehicles, pose even greater threats to people and the environment than when the power packs are strapped underneath a car's hood.
Why? Officials say it's because cracked casings can leak acid or lead, which corrodes everything from concrete to human skin. Now's your chance to do something about it while making a few bucks for your efforts.
Today is the last opportunity for motorists to take advantage of free battery checks offered by several AAA Carolinas-affiliated vehicle repair shops. The same shops will offer motorists $1 for each old or dead battery brought in for disposal.
More than 1,100 batteries were turned in by North Carolina and South Carolina residents during last year's "Great Battery Roundup." AAA officials hope to collect 2,000 old batteries between the two states during its fourth annual weeklong event.
Collections started Monday. Organizers timed the round-up to coincide with Earth Day, which was Friday.
"Our goal is to not only collect these batteries, but to educate people," said Stephen Phillips with AAA Carolinas. "Keeping an old battery in the garage, when it really should be turned in, is not a safe practice."
AAA estimates that more than 248 million vehicles travel North American roads. The average car battery contains 21 pounds of lead and 1 gallon of sulfuric acid. About 101 million car batteries are sold every year in the United States.
You do the math. A lot of old batteries can be found sitting around.
Reggie Denney, who owns Reggie Denney Auto Repair in Eden, is the only Rockingham County mechanic taking part in the program. Denney's been in business since 1979, but he expected few batteries this week, given his experience last year when no one showed to turn in their waste.
Times change. By late Tuesday, two county residents had turned in a collective 37 batteries. A third person had also called, inquiring about the program.
"I don't know how people wind up with so many batteries," said Denney, who wondered how his customers accumulated the collection of batteries they discarded. "Both these people seemed like farmers and had set them aside, deciding now was the time to dispose of them properly."
He theorizes that many people ignore -- or are unaware -- of the dangers posed by old batteries. Instead of taking the time to safely recycle a car's power pack, folks toss the batteries into the nearest trash bin.
And garbage dumps are not the place for batteries, experts say. Chemicals will eventually leach into the soil and possible well water.
"They just don't think about it," Denney said. "They have no idea how many contaminants are inside the old battery."
Guilford County residents who don't take advantage of AAA's program can always drop off old car batteries free of charge from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday at 2750 Patterson St. in Greensboro, home to the city's household hazardous waste program.
The site is also open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 373-2196 for more information.
Of course, you won't get a buck for your efforts. But you'll keep the environment safe -- not to mention pets and young children.
Final thoughts
Donna Padgett of Summerfield sent an e-mail following last week's column on a gas protest scheduled for today in Archdale.
"If I may, I'd like to add one very important tip to AAA's list to 'ease effects of current high gas prices.' Get a fuel-efficient vehicle.
"People want monster SUVs because the advertising industry has told us they're cool and macho. If you really want to save on gas, get a minivan instead."
Fast Forward runs every Saturday. Got questions you want answered or need to vent about transportation issues? Send 'em my way at 373-7008 or etownsend@news-record.com. Be sure to leave your name and a way for me to get in touch with you.