Go-Green Auto Salvage
The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program was initiated as a result of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, and has compiled guidelines for Pollution Prevention for Auto Salvage Yards.
We'd like you to know about some of the recommended practices for auto-salvage companies, so that you can be an informed consumer when it comes to arranging for free towing of your junk car by an auto- recycling company, like our own. We pride ourselves on providing eco-friendly auto-recycling services, and we know that that matters to you too when you think about recycling your car. Wherever you're from- whether it's Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Sacramento, we will make sure that your car is recycled according to the highest environmental protection standards.
1-800-300-5865
Although pollution laws initially focused on cleaning up pollution that had already occurred, newer laws by the Environmental Protection Agency focus on preventing pollution in the first place. At our company, we pride ourselves on helping to prevent pollution that often occurs during car disposal processes.
One very important guideline that our California company strictly adheres to, is to drain all fluids from auto parts initially. This prevents fluid leaks and spills during the auto-salvage dismantling process. Once fluids are drained from all car parts, it is important to contain them in labeled storage containers and to either reuse the fluids (as heating fuel, for example) or to dispose of them according to Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
There are several fluids that can potentially be hazardous waste, and need to be contained and then transported to regulated disposal locations (or recycled, in some cases). Anti-freeze fluids can be particularly dangerous if they leak into bodies of water or land; these fluids can instead be recycled. Brake fluid may contain hazardous characteristics, and fuel can pose both a hazardous waste problem and a safety concern if it is not disposed of properly.
In addition to fluids that require proper disposal, airbags have cartridges containing a hazardous substance, sodium azide, which requires careful disposal according to regulatory statutes. Batteries contain lead, and if they cannot be recycled, they should be placed in a closed, acid-resistant storage containers; the spilled battery fluid should be neutralized.
Before crushing a vehicle, glass should be removed for recycling, engines should be drained to prevent leaks, fuel tanks should be removed, and lead parts should be removed as well. In addition, mercury switches should be removed from the vehicles.
In addition, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be readily available to all employees, and environmental hotlines can be called if questions arise.
(Reference: Pollution Prevention for Auto Salvage Yards, Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, retrieved in June 2008 from www.sbeap.org)
1-800-300-5865