Vehicle Recycling Manual
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Vehicle Recycling Manual A Guide for Vehicle Recyclers You Auto Recycle The Key to a Better Environment Department of Ecology Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program October, 1997 Publication No. 97-433 printed on recycled paper The Department of Ecologys mission is simple: To protect, preserve and enhance Washingtons environment. These are responsibilities of great magnitude and we need your help. Consider how your daily actions affect the environment and take an active interest in pollution prevention. This booklet, put together cooperatively with the Department of Ecology and the Automotive Recyclers of Washington, briefly identifies areas of interest to your industry and provides some helpful information on how to reduce and manage waste at the source. This booklet is not intended to be a substitute for the states Dangerous Waste Regulations. For up to date information regarding specific or regulatory questions, your nearest Ecology regional office has specialists in the following programs: hazardous waste, solid waste, water quality and air quality. We are here to help! ✔ On-Site Technical Assistance ✔ Information and Referral Hotline ✔ Resource Center ✔ Workshops and Seminars ✔ Materials Exchange Information Contact the Department of Ecology at the phone number shown on the map below. (425) 649-7000 (509) 575-2490 (509) 456-2926 (360) 407-6300 AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS of WASHINGTON 1233 S Director St Seattle, Washington 98108 206-767-3149 / Fax 206-767-3291 Introduction Approximately 275 million tons of Waste reduction and pollution preven- hazardous waste are generated each year in tion practices can benefit the vehicle recycling the United States. That is enough to fill the industry in many ways, including: Louisiana Super Dome 7 times each year. That equates to about one ton of hazardous ● A healthier, safer work environment for waste for every American man, woman, and you and your employees generating child. Manufacturing even a simple product possible dollar savings in medical produces hazardous waste. For example, the insurance, fewer sick days, and increased manufacture of a tennis ball creates 50 production. different hazardous waste streams, stain ● Protection of yourself and others from resistant carpet creates 118 different waste serious injury or illnesses. streams, and a large car (fully loaded, of ● Avoidance of long-term liability con- course) creates eight 55-gallon drums of cerns. Remember, you are legally and hazardous waste during manufacturing! financially responsible for the proper These wastes can pollute groundwater, handling of your wastes. rivers, lakes, aquifers, air, and the soil that ● Maintaining the ability to get insurance or we grow our food in and live on. It only bank loans. takes one gallon of used oil to pollute one ● Minimizing the chances of not being able million gallons of drinking water. to sell your property due to contamination problems. Ever since vehicles were first manufac- ● Substantial monetary savings on hazard- tured in the early 1900s, they have been ous waste management costs. reused and recycled. The recycling system is ● Avoiding costly waste transportation and heavily dependent on vehicle recyclers. disposal costs. When an automobile is no longer usable, it ● Reducing regulatory requirements. generally ends up in the hands of a recycler. ● Reducing operation costs by using less The United States vehicle recycling and raw or new materials. shredding industry is a multi-billion dollar a ● Saving money when you buy and use year business. Vehicle recyclers play a only what you need. valuable role by rebuilding, recovering, and ● Thinking of everything as a product. reselling usable parts from worn out or Selling or exchanging surplus materials damaged vehicles, as well as recycling with other businesses may produce materials that cannot be used in their present additional income for your business. form. They make it easy for consumers to ● Creating a great marketing and public find clean, used parts for all types of ve- relations tool. Tell everyone that your hicles. Even though generation of wastes are business is environmentally responsible! some times unavoidable, vehicle recyclers improve the quality of our environment through good waste management practices. The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program 1 What Happens When You Auto Recycle! the Vehicle Gets to the Yard? Here are the facts: ● Approximately 10 million vehicles are recycled annually. All businesses are differentsome are ● At least 95% of all cars scrapped in the larger than others, some perform tasks that United States are collected for reuse and others do not. The following list offers some recycling. helpful best management practices for any ● Cars are the number 1 recycled product in size vehicle recycler. the United States. ● 75% of the material in a vehicle is Incoming cars currently recycled, as opposed to about 4 Inspect incoming vehicles for leaks in 61% of aluminum cans. ● engines, radiators, transmissions, differ- Vehicle recycling generates approxi- entials, fuel tanks and damaged areas. mately 12 million tons of recycled steel 4 Place drip pans under leaks to collect all every year in the United States. That is fluids. 37% of all ferrous scrap to the scrap 4 Remove fuel, refrigerants, and battery as processing industry generating an energy soon as possible. savings of approximately 74% enough 4 Drain all fluids from vehicles over a energy to power 18 million households concrete drip pad before crushing or for one year. ● storing on bare ground. This includes Recycling saves an estimated 85 million fluids in: engines, radiators, transmis- barrels of oil that would otherwise be sions, heater cores, brake lines, differen- used to manufacture new replacement tials, all lines and hoses, fuel tanks, air parts. ● conditioning units and window washing Recycling one car conserves 2,500 fluid tanks. Remove and capture refriger- pounds of iron ore, 1,000 pounds of coal ants. and 40 pounds of limestone. 4 ● Remove used engines through the hood. Recycling steel reduces air pollution by Do not tip vehicles on their sides. This 86%, water use by 40%, water pollution allows fluids to run out and spill on the by 97% and mining wastes by 97%. ground. Everyone has a vested interest in vehicle recycling. Using recycled materials in the manufacture of new vehicles can reduce costs for both automakers and consumers while conserving valuable natural resources. 2 A Guide for Vehicle Recyclers Waste Reduction - A Good Start Use good operating practices Waste is defined as any material you 4 Do not let liquids evaporate; maintain intend to discard. Waste is considered equipment to prevent leaks and spills; yours if your actions or business operations monitor usage. cause clean material to become contami- 4 Maintain equipment and use drip pans nated and unusable for its intended, origi- to minimize the use of any absorbents. nal purpose. If waste is on your property If you must use absorbents, consider (even if someone else dumped it there or reusable or combustible materials. left it behind) you are responsible for it. 4 LABEL everything (including small The greatest economic and environmental spray bottles) to avoid cross contami- benefits come from avoiding the generation nation. This will facilitate recycling. of waste in the first place. 4 Keep all chemicals in closed, covered Material is considered a waste until or sealed containers. recycling makes it usable again. Recycling 4 Always use funnels or pumps when is better than disposal, but is still less transferring or dispensing chemicals. beneficial than waste reduction. These 4 Place a platform or step next to storage ideas should help to reduce waste, free up drums so employees do not have to lift labor, and may provide you payback on drain pans above their waists. investments. 4 Seal floor drains. Do not discharge To begin processed waste water to the ground, 4 Take a walk through your business and dry wells or septic systems. look at all the processes that use Recycle wastes and waste water which chemicals or generate solid, liquid or you cannot reduce. air wastes. 4 Consider putting dirty floor washing 4 Do not let yourself get overwhelmed! water into your spray cabinet instead Make small incremental changes. of down the drain. 4 Ask yourself if there is a way you can change a process so that it does not produce a waste or if you can lower the toxicity of the products you use. Substitute a less toxic raw material 4 Switch to non-chlorinated compounds or a cabinet parts washer for parts cleaning. 4 Always ask for a material safety data sheet before ordering any new product. Biodegradable does not necessarily mean environmentally safe, or that the product is exempt from regulations. Safe products that become mixed with hazardous substances may need to be handled as hazardous waste. Call Ecology for help if you are unsure. The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program 3 The following types of wastes may be Used oils include but are not limited to the produced by the vehicle recycling industry following: during dismantling or disassembly: Motor oil Transmission fluid Possible Hazardous Wastes Lubricating oil ñ Used Oil Gear oil ñ Used Oil Burned in Space Heaters Cutting oil ñ Used Oil Filters Hydraulic oil ñ Transmission Fluid Differential oil ñ Transmission Filters Power-steering fluid ñ Brake Fluid Transaxle fluid ñ Antifreeze ñ Refrigerant (CFCs) 4 Store used oil in a leak-proof and closed ñ Fuel and Fuel Filters container. ñ Lead-acid Batteries 4 Do not accidentally contaminate your ñ Lead Parts used oil with even small amounts of ñ Mercury Switches brake cleaner, carb cleaner, or solvents. ñ Waste Water Even small amounts of chlorinated ñ Sump Sludges solvents turn recyclable used oil into ñ Air Emissions dangerous waste. Purchase and use non- ñ Spray Cans chlorinated aerosol solvents. ñ Windshield Washer Fluid 4 Drain and collect all oils on a covered ñ Air Bags and curbed, impermeable concrete area ñ Auto Fluff away from any drains.