Health & Fitness
Green Auto Repair and Maintenance
Consumers can protect themselves and the environment by selecting a "green" repair shop. Auto repair facilities can learn how to "green" their operations. Information is available to all online.
What happens to the oil, grease, brake fluid, degreasers and other liquid waste associated with auto maintenance and repairs? Some chemicals end up in our environment through evaporation, spills, leaks or negligence. Some of the most common chemicals such as Trichloroethylene (TCE) persist in the environment and can cause diseases such as cancer, central nervous system disorders, immune disorders and affect developing fetuses.
Auto shops can recycle some materials on site such as used oil or antifreeze. Other chemicals such as refrigerants must be sent to a reclamation facility for recycling.
For Consumers:
Choosing auto repair shops that have been certified "green" by the "EnviroStar" or "Find Green Garage" program is a way to help protect yourself and your community from hazardous chemicals. It is easy for those who have access to a smart phone or a computer to look up participating auto repair shops and dealers.
Find out what's happening in Shoreline-Lake Forest Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Both sites allow the user to do a quick search by location and service but the Find Green Garage specializes in topics associated with transportation including fleet management.
For Auto Shops:
Pollution Prevention Resource Center has on their website "Pollution Prevention for Auto Repair Shops" that include fact sheets, case studies and applicable regulations that owners of repair shops can use to educate themselves and their employees. "Auto repair shops can save money, conserve resources, reduce emissions, avoid or reduce permitting fees, and stay in compliance by making simple changes to their practices or implementing the Pollution Prevention methods identified."
