sible for its content.
Preventing Pollution in the Vehicle Maintenance Industry Department of Natural Resources fact sheet
Preventing Pollution in the Vehicle
Maintenance Industry
10/2007
PUB000799
A Guide to Environmental Compliance and
Pollution Prevention for Vehicle Repair Shops in Missouri
Preventing Pollution in the Vehicle Maintenance Industry
As environmental protection becomes more and more important across the nation, industries of
every type are faced with some big questions:

What environmental regulations apply to my facility?

How do I comply with those regulations?

Are there things I can do to reduce the regulations I must comply with?

How can I protect myself from fines and liability?

How do I protect myself and my workers from environmental hazards in the shop?
This publication was developed to help vehicle maintenance shops in Missouri answer
some of those questions. The fact sheet provides basic information about regulatory
requirements and suggestions for protecting yourself, your workers and the environment
through pollution prevention.
Each topic in this publication deals with a separate issue that you may face in your vehicle
maintenance shop. The information may not answer every question you have, but you should be
able to decide if you need more information or assistance on a particular issue. The topics are
listed on page 2. 2
Preventing Pollution in the Vehicle Maintenance Industry Table of Contents
Pollution Prevention ....................................................................................................................... 3
Aerosol Cans................................................................................................................................. 4
Air Conditioning Refrigerant ........................................................................................................... 5
Antifreeze ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Backflow Prevention ...................................................................................................................... 8
Brake Fluid .................................................................................................................................... 9
Brake Repair ............................................................................................................................... 10
Catalytic Converters/Mufflers ...................................................................................................... 11
Floor Cleaning ............................................................................................................................. 11
Floor Dry/Absorbents .................................................................................................................. 12
Fluorescent Bulbs ....................................................................................................................... 14
Fuel Tanks ................................................................................................................................... 15
GVIP - Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program .............................................................................. 16
Hazardous Wastes ..................................................................................................................... 21
Hoses and Gaskets ..................................................................................................................... 23
Lead-Acid Batteries ..................................................................................................................... 23
Mercury Switches ........................................................................................................................ 25
Parts Washers ............................................................................................................................ 26
Petroleum Storage Tanks ............................................................................................................ 27
Radiators ..................................................................................................................................... 29
Shop Towels ................................................................................................................................ 29
Used Oil Disposal and Recycling ................................................................................................ 31
Used Oil Filters ............................................................................................................................ 32
Used Oil from Do-It-Youselfers ................................................................................................. 33
Used Oil Storage ......................................................................................................................... 35
Scrap Tires .................................................................................................................................. 36
Scrap Tire Collection Centers ..................................................................................................... 38
Wastewater ................................................................................................................................. 39 3
Pollution Prevention
Vehicle maintenance shops deal with many things that can affect the environment. Materials
such as waste oil, antifreeze and air-conditioning refrigerant can harm the environment and
people if they are not properly managed. State and federal environmental regulations explain
what legally can and cannot be done with these materials. The regulations describe how
pollution (waste) should be controlled, stored, disposed of or treated. But a better solution is to
prevent the waste or pollution.
What is Pollution Prevention?
Pollution prevention is simply not making the waste (or pollutant) in the first place. It means
doing what we can to reduce the amount and toxicity of the pollution we generate. Preventing
pollution may be something as simple as using a catch-basin to prevent spills, or something as
complex as redesigning an operation to increase efficiency and reduce waste. Simple things like
choosing non-hazardous solvents can protect the environment and reduce the number of
environmental regulations you are faced with. Pollution prevention means thinking about the
environmental impact of your actions, and trying to limit that impact.
Why Prevent Pollution?
When we generate waste or pollution, we must safely and legally manage that waste or pollution.
Whether it is household trash or waste from a business, managing wastes costs money.
Usually the things discarded are materials paid for when we got them. A good example is paper
towels. We buy them, use them once, then pay again to dispose of them. Reducing the amount
of waste generated saves money. Its as simple as that. Reducing costs is a major reason to
prevent pollution. Here are a few others : Improved work environment and worker safety. Reduced liability. Increased efficiency. Fewer regulatory requirements. Better environmental protection. Enhanced marketing and public relations opportunities.
What Can Be Done At Vehicle Maintenance Shops?
There are many ways to prevent pollution at vehicle maintenance shops. Each of these fact
sheets has suggestions on ways to prevent pollution. Here are a few general tips: Keep work areas clean and well organized to help prevent accidents. Use drip pans and splash guards where spills frequently occur. Fix leaks immediately. Dont buy more than is needed. The leftovers may become waste. Purchase the largest practical container (containers usually end up as waste), but dont
purchase more than needed. Purchase the least toxic or hazardous product available. Check the material safety data
sheets for products purchased. If the product is toxic or hazardous, ask the supplier
for alternatives. Use the oldest items first (first-in, first-out). 4 If there are excess or unneeded materials, see if the supplier can take them back. Include the cost of disposal when making purchasing decisions. What looks like the
cheapest option may cost more because of disposal or other management costs. Store materials in a way that keeps them from being damaged. Inspect storage areas regularly for leaks. Make sure all items are clearly labeled. Store products in original containers. Store wastes separately and be sure they are properly labeled to make it easier to reuse or
recycle them. Store items that could leak in a place where leaks will be contained and easily spotted. Make a list of wastes. Then try to find a way to eliminate each of them. For example, if
paper towels are thrown away, consider using launderable shop rags.
Aerosol Cans
Vehicle maintenance technicians use aerosol cans for various reasons. Spray cans may
contain hazardous chemicals, such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane or toluene. In some cases, the
aerosol may be hazardous waste because of what it contains or once contained. It is important
to carefully manage this waste to protect human health and the environment.
Aerosol cans are often recycled as scrap metal. If the empty cans are recycled, the can and the
residue inside are not considered waste so most hazardous waste regulations dont apply. If the
can is not empty, it can still be recycled if the recycler is able to proper