AAA offering used battery recycling

In celebration of Earth Day, AAA will accept used vehicle batteries for free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at its downtown Spokane office, 1717 W. Fourth Ave. For every lead-acid battery turned in for recycling, AAA will plant an evergreen tree in the 100-mile Mountains to Sound Greenway that extends along Interstate 90 from the Puget Sound region to Central Washington. AAA’s technicians will also perform free battery tests at Saturday’s event. Most lead-acid batteries are more than 99 percent recyclable, and proper disposal keeps toxins out of the environment. Motorists should wear protective eyewear and gloves when handling old batteries. Putting them in a plastic container before transporting them also is recommended.