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Auto Salvage Success Story
Office of Pollution Prevention
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Waste reduction

Auto salvage yard

ABSTRACT

An automobile salvage yard was able to lower waste disposal costs, protect the environment and enhance employee safety by implementing several waste reduction techniques, including waste stream separation, housekeeping improvements, and recycling.

BACKGROUND

John’s Auto Parts in Blaine, Minnesota, is a salvage yard that purchases used autos to recover potentially usable parts. They have added a shop as well that deals in new parts. Acid-containing batteries and mineral spirits used for cleaning parts constitute the hazardous waste generated by the dismantling and recycling process. Non-hazardous wastes include used oil and antifreeze drained from the salvaged autos.

IMPLEMENTATION

John’s Auto Parts implemented several methods of waste reduction, summarized as follows:

Waste stream separation
Previously mixed oil and mineral spirits waste streams were separated. This waste separation reduces the overall amount of hazardous waste because oil uncontaminated with mineral spirits is not hazardous. The two waste streams may be dealt with appropriately.
Inventory control
Computer-tracked inventory records allow the shop to avoid overstocking used parts, thus removing unnecessary sources of waste.
Leak prevention
A diked storage area having an impermeable surface for battery storage features curbs to prevent battery acid from leaking into areas containing floor drains. The batteries are then removed by a contractor.
Reclaimed materials
The company has contracted with Safety Kleen to remove used mineral spirits for off-site distillation. The reclaimed mineral spirits may then be reused.
Recycled materials
John’s Auto Parts sells used antifreeze (drained from the salvaged autos) to the public for $1 a gallon.


RESULTS

The company is able to reduce disposal costs by selling antifreeze, maintaining appropriate inventory levels, and reducing the volume of hazardous waste in separating the oil and mineral spirits waste streams. Environmental damage is prevented by proper storage of batteries and removal of mineral spirits; these measures enhance employee safety as well.

SOURCE OF INFORMATION

The information for this tip was documented by a MnTAP (Minnesota Technical Assistance Program) staff member who had consulted with the company. The pollution prevention practices described were already in effect before Mntap’s involvement. This article was reprinted with the permission from the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program.

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This Pollution Prevention Success Story is provided as a service of the Office of the Pollution Prevention, a non-regulatory, technical assistance program of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. For more information on opportunities to reduce waste, contact:

    Office of Pollution Prevention
    Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
    629 East Main Street, 5th Floor
    P.O. Box 10009
    Richmond, Virginia 23240-0009
    (804) 698-4545, FAX (804) 698-4346
    e-mail: rtgriffin@deq.state.va.us

    Updated 9/8/97