BACKGROUND

Pollution prevention (P2) means "source reduction," as defined under the Pollution Prevention Act, and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through:

• increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources; or
• protection of natural resources by conservation.

The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) was created in 1997 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The goal was to lay the groundwork for a seamless national network of easy to access, high quality pollution prevention information that promotes waste reduction throughout the United States.

Much of this information is now provided through “Topic Hubs,” which are web-based guides to peer-reviewed pollution prevention information and expertise on a particular subject. Included in the 70 topic hubs is the Auto Salvage Topic Hub found at http://www.p2rx.org/topichubs/index.cfm?page=toc&hub_id=506&subsec_id=7. Following are some relevant excerpts from this site.

SOURCES OF POTENTIAL POLLUTION AT SALVAGE YARDS

Environmental contamination can occur at many stages of the salvage yard operations. Soil, groundwater and air can be contaminated during vehicle disassembly and fluid drainage operations. Contamination can also result from improper handling and storage of materials (batteries, captured refrigerants, fluids, etc). In addition to a variety of fluids that may contaminate the environment if spilled or evaporated, automobiles are also a source of other hazardous materials, such as mercury, lead, and asbestos.

The two most important regulatory issues for salvage yards are fluid management and contaminated stormwater. Other issues most subject to regulation are:

• Storage tanks--above ground and under ground
• Fugitive air emissions--evaporating fuel, refrigerants
• Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) recovery licensure and training
• Improper disposal
• Tire storage and disposal

For information on how best to manage these issues, go to the relevant fact sheets for your state posted on ECAR at http://www.ecarcenter.org/ecartour.html.

NEED FOR ACTION

The auto salvage industry is fast becoming a highly regulated industry in the United States by EPA, state environmental regulatory agencies, county government, and municipal government. By taking preventive actions, salvage yards can minimize the potential for regulatory enforcement and increase positive public perception of the reuse and recycling roles that auto salvage yards play.

FEDERAL ACTIONS

EPA Launches Green Power Community Challenge Nationwide/Local governments expand use of green power

EPA is kicking off its national “Green Power Community Challenge,” a year-long campaign to encourage cities, towns, villages, and Native American tribes to use renewable energy and fight climate change. Purchases of green power help to prevent greenhouse gas emissions and also help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity across the United States.

To participate in the challenge, a local government must join EPA’s Green Power Partnership and use green power in amounts that meet the program’s purchase requirements. The local government must also conduct a campaign to encourage local businesses and residents to collectively buy or produce green power on-site in amounts that meet EPA requirements.

More than 30 cities and towns in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin have become green power communities, and are collectively buying more than 900 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from the electricity use of nearly 80,000 average American homes.

The campaign is designed to expand upon the successes of the program, aiming to double the total aggregate amount of green power used by EPA Green Power Communities. As part of the national campaign, communities will compete to see which one can use the most green power and which one can achieve the highest green power percentage of total electricity use. There will be a separate award for each category with national recognition and special attention from EPA. The winners will be announced in September 2011.

During the challenge, from Sept. 20, 2010, to Sept. 1, 2011, communities will be ranked for the two award categories on EPA’s website on a quar­terly schedule; EPA will also provide technical assistance to help participants increase their green power usage.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. Green power resources produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conven­tional power technologies, and produce no net increase of greenhouse gas emissions.

More information on EPA’s Green Power Community Challenge: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/gpcchallenge

More information about EPA’s Green Power Communities:
http://epa.gov/greenpower/communities/index.htm

STATE ACTIONS

Seven Service Facilities Complete Climate Protection Pledge

The Climate Protection Partnership division of the U.S. EPA and the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide recognize the following seven mobile air conditioning service facilities for being among the first to complete all the steps of the Climate Protection Pledge.

The facilities include:

• Autoexcel, San Diego, Calif.
• Automotive Unlimited, Chanhassen, Minn.
• Cool, Inc., Butler, Wis.
• Linn State Technical College, Linn, Mo.
• Rad Air, Medina, Ohio
• Rad Air of Merriman Valley, Ohio
• The Air Shop, Santa Ana, Calif.

These seven shops have voluntarily pledged to adhere to the best service practices for environmentally responsible mobile air conditioning service. They have trained technicians and possess the required equipment for proper service.

Visit the MACS website at www.macsw.org to become a participant of the Climate Protection Pledge and for notice of future informational webinars sponsored by the Climate Protection Partnership division of the U.S. EPA. You can also access archived webinars.

Ford Pioneers Patent-Pending Use of Eco-Friendly Soy Oil in Rubber Automotive Parts

Ford Motor Co.'s biomaterial researchers have engineered a patent-pending formula to use renewable soy oil to improve rubber car parts and make them more environmentally friendly.

By using renewable soy oil as a 25 percent replacement for petroleum oil, Ford researchers more than doubled rubber's stretchability and reduced its environmental impact. Soy-based rubber parts such as radiator deflector shields, air baffles, cupholder inserts and floor mats are under consideration for future Ford vehicle programs.

The scope of Ford's recent rubber research, which was funded in part by grants from the United Soybean Board (USB), included the use of soy fillers (flour, meal) as well as soy oils.

Ford researchers found that soy fillers could provide an inexpensive and environmentally friendly partial replacement of carbon black, a petroleum-based material traditionally used to reinforce rubber. Used together, soy oil and soy fillers could replace up to 26 percent of the petroleum-based content in automotive rubber applications.

While rubber's role in automotive applications is generally not a glamorous one, it is significant. According to the International Rubber Study Group, the automotive sector accounts for more than 50 percent of worldwide rubber consumption, which exceeded 22 million metric tons in 2008. Automotive rubber usage is expected to rise more than 4 percent through 2013.  

Updated June 2011