POLLUTION PREVENTION (P2) OPPORTUNITIES

Reducing wastes in your repair shop makes good business sense. Reducing pollutants at the source (source reduction), which actually means reducing the amount and/or toxicity of the waste you generate, can help you:

Save money.
Reduce time and effort on hazardous waste management.
Minimize long-term liability concerns.
Promote healthier, safer work environment for you and your employees.

It may not be as difficult as you think. A good way to start is to walk through your shop and review all of the processes that generate wastes. As you review each process, ask yourself if you can modify the process in some way so that it does not produce waste.

Answering the following questions will help you assess your current P2 activities. Any “NO” answers indicate areas you may wish to investigate further.

Good Operating Practices	YES	NO
Do you try to consolidate the number of different hazardous materials/products you use? (To minimize inventory.)	_	_
Do you purchase materials only as needed and use a “first in, first out,” policy? (To reduce quantities in storage and prevent materials from becoming too old to be used and the need for disposal of old, unused materials.)	_	_
Do you use tight fitting lids and leak-proof spigots, funnels or pumps to transfer materials? (Evaporation of raw materials means money is wasted.)	_	_
Do you prevent and contain spills and leaks as much as possible? (Such as through the use of drip pans or trays to collect spillage during material transfer, under leaking cars, or removed parts to keep floors free of contamination.) Pallets with spill skids are an option.	_	_
Do you keep used oil and other vehicle fluids segregated from solvent and carburetor cleaner wastes?	_	_
Do you use separate receptacles for draining used oil and antifreeze?	_	_
Do you label waste containers clearly to prevent contamination of non-hazardous wastes?	_	_
Do you use dry cleanup rather than wet cleanup wherever possible?	_	_
Do you perform weekly inspections on containers, tanks and equipment for leaks or deterioration and repair leaks immediately?	_	_

Parts Cleaning	YES	NO
Do you turn off the solvent stream and cover the sink when not in use to reduce evaporation?	_	_
Do you allow proper drainage of parts to minimize solvent dripping onto the floor?	_	_
Do you remove parts slowly after immersion in solvent solution to prevent spillage?	_	_
Do you install drip trays or racks near solvent sinks, hot tanks, and jet spray washers to drain cleaned parts? Do you collect drainage and return it to the parts washing equipment?	_	_
Do you place parts cleaning equipment in a convenient location near the service bays to reduce drips and spills?	_	_
Do you pre-rinse parts before using the hot tank or jet spray washer?	_	_
Do you use dirty solvent first when cleaning parts?	_	_
Do you use a filter on parts washers to extend the solvent life?	_	_
Have you considered the use of non-chlorinated compounds, such as citrus-based solvent, for parts cleaning?	_	_
Have you considered switching to water-based cleaners instead of using spray cans of brake cleaner, carburetor cleaner, or solvent parts washers?	_	_

Substitute Less Toxic Materials	YES	NO
Do you use solvents with the lowest possible Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) content? If not, ask your supplier for assistance.	_	_
Do you substitute detergent-based solution for caustic solution when cleaning?	_	_
Have you considered a new parts washing system which uses non-hazardous solvents?	_	_

Aerosol Products	YES	NO
Do you use reusable aerosol cans rather than disposable?	_	_
Have you tried replacing aerosol products containing hazardous solvents, such as methylene chloride, with products containing only non-hazardous solvents?	_	_
Have you consolidated the number of different aerosol products used into two or three different products? (E.g., carburetor cleaner, penetrating oil, and one other multi-purpose cleaner.)	_	_
Have you minimized the use of spray cleaners? (Much of the cleaner ends up in the air, not on the part, resulting in higher cost and unnecessary employee exposure.)	_	_

Training	YES	NO
Do you train your employees to use solvents and chemicals efficiently, using only the minimal amounts required to get the job done?	_	_
Do you train your employees in waste segregation, waste minimization, hazardous material handling, and emergency response?	_	_

Recycle Wastes That You Cannot Reduce	YES	NO
Do you have a contract with approved recycling services for used oil, oil filters, used antifreeze and old lead acid batteries?	_	_
Do you have an on-site distillation unit to recycle spent solvent or a hazardous waste management service to clean and recycle solvents?	_	_
Do you use an industrial laundry service for dirty shop rags?	_	_

If you answered YES frequently, good for you! Your shop successfully prevents pollution.

If you answered NO, there are many opportunities to prevent pollution and save money. Contact DNRP at 519-1260 for technical assistance. See Appendix 2 for additional assistance.