Pollution Prevention Rounds Out CAV Conversion
by Paul Crumpler, P²AD Pollution Prevention Engineer
Fleet maintenance is a dirty job. Motor vehicle fluids, batteries, and brake pads are often hazardous or toxic and maintenance facility employees have to work with these products everyday. Clean fuels and electric vehicles do not provide a solution to handling oil, grease, batteries, or brake fluid. The keys to reducing environmental impact and cost are found in improving handling practices of these and other maintenance materials. Reducing spills, prompt collection of fluids leaking from vehicles, segregation of wastes, and improved cleaning techniques can reduce pollution, aid in compliance with regulations, and reduce operating cost.
Leaking fluids contaminate storm water and wastewater, and add to operating cost by requiring clean up. Incoming vehicles should be inspected for leaks; drip pans should be placed beneath leaking vehicles. Oil and coolant spills are common in maintenance bays. These are usually cleaned up with absorbent; drip pans can offer a less expensive alternative when placed beneath the vehicle before removing filters and other oily components. Oily parts should be drained into the drip pan to remove free oil before other processing or degreasing. Fluids collected in drip pans should be added to similar fluids for recycling or disposal.
As stated, fluid spills are common in maintenance bays; unfortunately, floor drains are also common. Floor drains make cleanup of spills and leaks very easy; they also contaminate wastewater unnecessarily. Floor drains become a catch-all for all types of automotive fluids and solid waste. When these materials reach the sewer system, they cause problems. Publicly Owned Wastewater Treatment facilities impose limits on oils, greases, solids, and other contaminants in wastewater. A single spill or many small spills entering the wastewater stream can push a maintenance facility over their discharge limits, resulting in significant surcharges added to the water service bill. The best solution is to permanently plug floor drains in maintenance bays. Avoid spills as a first step; spills that reach the floor should be cleaned with dry cleanup methods and never be allowed to enter a floor drain.
Parts cleaning and degreasing are other common sources of hazardous waste and air pollution. Most maintenance facilities use parts washers consisting of a sink, pump, and solvent sump. These can reduce waste if used properly. Recently, many suppliers of parts washers have introduced a filter-type parts washer in which a filter is installed within the circulation system that removes contaminants from the cleaning solvent. Non-filter units require periodic replacement of the cleaning solution; filter-equipped units require replacement of the filter, but not the cleaning solvent. The results are often a reduction of hazardous waste generation and disposal cost. Some maintenance facilities have ceased to be hazardous waste Large Quantity Generators (LQG) by replacing non-filter parts washers with filter-type washers. In addition, some vendors offer less hazardous or nonhazardous cleaning solvents that can be used in parts washers. Waste from parts cleaning can be further reduced by restricting the use of aerosol-type cleaners; the solvent is only used once and then evaporates. Replacing a large variety of cleaning chemicals with one or two effective, non-hazardous solutions can also reduce waste.
The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) is available to help Georgia companies, including fleet operators and motor vehicle maintenance facility operators, reduce waste and increase profits. Services range from telephone assistance to on-site evaluations and consultations. The service is free, confidential, and non-regulatory.
