Contact Numbers in the Southern California Area

Contacts

Trade Associations
Automotive Service Council	(213) 837-0446
Department of Health Services
Main Number	(213) 620-2380
Alternate Technology	(916) 324-1807
Hazardous Waste Haulers	(916) 324-2428
Agencies with Waste Reduction Programs
County of Los Angeles - Health	(213) 744-3223
County of Los Angeles - Public Works	(818) 458-3561
City of Santa Monica	(213) 458-8228
California Waste Exchange	(916) 324-1867
Small Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator Information and Technical Assistance Clearinghouse	(800) 458-5886
South Coast Air Quality Management District	(818) 571-5196
Small Business Assistance Loans
U.S. Small Business Administration	(213) 894-6852
State Department of Health Services	(916) 324-1807
Hazardous Waste Reduction Loan Program	(213) 382-4300 or (213) 739-2999
Hazardous Waste Reduction Facts Vehicle & Equipment Repair and Maintenance Shops
City of Santa Monica Department of General Services	(213) 458-8228

Waste Reduction Saves Your Money

It's a proven fact you will save money by reducing the amount of hazardous waste your business produces. Cost savings result from:

• Reduced waste disposal expense and liability
  
• More efficient use of process materials

When you reduce hazardous waste, you help protect the public's health and the environment.

Some of the typical wastes that can be reduced in the automotive repair industry are petroleum products such as motor oil, hydraulic fluid, ATF, and grease coolants, solvents, asbestos, and clarifier sludges.

• Train employees on proper hazardous materials management and waste reduction.
  
• Keep your shop clean and orderly to eliminate spills and leaks.
  
• Drain oil filters for 48 hours and dispose of them as non-hazardous.
  
• Change coolant less often and add inhibitors to extend product life.
  
• Segregate wastes by type. Do not mix waste oils with solvent or coolant.
  
• Substitute products with those containing less hazardous ingredients.
  
• Pre-soak parts in used degreaser to reduce volume off fresh solvent used.
  
• Label all containers with use and content information.
  
• Clean solvent tank sludges regularly to maintain fresh solvent.
  
• Recycle used batteries, oil, and solvent.
  
• Use water-base pressure washing systems instead of washers that use solvents.
  
• Substitute asbestos brake linings with non-asbestos brake linings.
  
• Use only one type of solvent to improve recycling and decrease management time.
  
• Keep lids closed to minimize evaporation.
  
• Use higher performance, longer lasting oils.
  
• Install on-site solvent recovery systems and transport off-site for incineration of tank bottom sludges.
  
• Reprocess fuel contaminated with water.

Regulatory Requirements

1. Waste oil is regulated as a hazardous Waste in California and must be transported by a licensed hazardous waste hauler to a licensed treatment facility.

2. Coolant is also regulated as a hazardous waste in California because it contains ethylene glycol (toxic) and significant amounts of benzene, toluene, lead, zinc, arsenic, mercury and copper accumulated from the cooling system. Small quantities of antifreeze can be discharged into the sewer in Los Angeles County. Contact the local industrial waste office for specific discharge limitations.

3. Solvents (flammable) containing petroleum-based ingredients or mineral spirits which are classified as hazardous should be recycled.

4. Asbestos waste must be double-bagged and labeled before transporting to a certified landfill by a licensed hazardous waste transporter.

5. Clarifier sludges may be classified as hazardous depending on their use. Typically, clarifiers that serve steam cleaning operations generate a sludge that is hazardous while those servicing wash racks with no solvent used do not create a hazardous sludge.