Green Maintenance and Auto Care
Working on, maintaining, and cleaning a car can be messy work. Harsh chemicals, environmentally unfriendly fluids and materials are regularly used to perform many cleanup and repair jobs both on the car itself, and the workspace used to clean or fix it. Here at Valencia Auto Center, we’ve partnered with Green Santa Clarita, a City Sponsored program to help businesses in our community protect the environment in which we all live. Through Green Santa Clarita, many great strides have been taken to make sure all residents and local business place a high priority on going green in every way they could, and even offer programs to help residents and business owners alike go green in big and small ways.
As southern California’s largest auto group, Valencia Auto Center has taken green auto maintenance and car care to heart in everything we do for many types of messy jobs. Environmentally safe automotive maintenance and car care is great step to ensure that we can create and help maintain a safer environment and keep our communities free of contaminants in stormwater pollution, runoff, and unnecessary waste.
When you’re working on your car, keep these helpful green maintenance tips in mind.
Fluid Recycling
Automotive fluids like oil, gasoline, antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power-steering fluid, etc. can be recycled. If you're changing these fluids, first store them properly in spill and leak proof containers, then find out where you can recycle them close to you. Popular Mechanics has also put together an in-depth guide on what to do with materials you need to get rid of.
If you're business does not already, you can begin a recycling program or inquire where and how to recycle various materials used for repairs or cleaning of cars.
Cleaning Your Vehicle and Equipment
Cleaning a car can require harsh solvents to get the vehicle clean. So make sure the water you use to wash your vehicle and any waste water produced does not enter a public storm drain. Industrial car washing is only allowed at a certified facility if all processed and rinse water is disposed of through a sanitary sewer, a pre-treatment system for waste water, or into a sump. This type of waste water may also be recovered and taken directly to a waste treatment facility.
Make sure that whatever facility you bring this stored water to has a valid and current Industrial Waste permit for any and all vehicle washing activity.
Quick Car Care Tips
- Make sure to cover work, storage, and fueling work spaces from rain and runoff
- To avoid spills, use a funnel and drip pan to prevent spillage. If one does occur, clean up immediately and thoroughly
- Invest in auto absorbent or spill kits and have them on-site to allow for prompt cleaning of any accidents
- Properly label and store any waste materials in a covered, secondary containment area before later disposal
- Instruct any employees on all best practices to prevent stormwater pollution
- Use clear, written signage to instruct people not to overfill fuel tanks and canisters
- Have all necessary permits required and up-to-date: an Underground Storage Tank (UST) permit is needed for accidental spill and overfill incidents
- Comply with permitting requirements for Los Angeles County Industrial Waste, Los Angeles County Sanitation District, and/or Los Angeles County Fire Department
These are just some of the many ways you can help keep our community greener, cleaner, and nicer. Visit Green Santa Clarita today to learn more about the many ways in which you can help make a difference in our community. And stop by Valencia Auto Center to ask how we're doing our part to keep Mother Nature clean and healthy.
