Introducing Pollution Prevention
Auto Body Shops
Pollution Prevention Guide
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Defining Pollution Prevention
This guide will help you identify areas in your shop where waste is generated
and suggest ways to minimize that waste. The easiest way to reduce waste is
to avoid generating it in the first place. Pollution prevention,
also known as source reduction or waste minimization,
is the use of materials, processes, or practices that reduce or eliminate the
generation of waste or pollution in your shop. Pollution prevention can include
practices that improve worker safety and reduce the use of hazardous and non-hazardous
materials, energy, water, and other resources.
Pollution prevention practices can also include material reuse and recycling
(terms defined in Glossary). Treating and disposing of waste by landfilling
or incineration is not considered pollution prevention because waste disposal
can be difficult and expensive, can pollute the air, water, and ground, and
can create health hazards.
Common Wastes Generated:
- Body repair materials
- Paints and masking material
- Paint equipment cleanup wastes - solvent, paint
booth filters
- Auto body solid waste - glass, metals, plastics,
tires
- Automotive fluids - antifreeze, solvents, thinners
- Used oils - engine, transmission fluids
- Fuels - gasoline, diesel
- Used filters - oil, fuel, transmission, antifreeze
recycler unit filters, air conditioning unit filters
- Wastewater and sludge
- Used batteries
- Refrigerants
- Shop towels
- Office wastes - paper, packaging, equipment
- Energy
- Water
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Pollution prevention practices can help:
- Improve the quality of your products and services.
- Reduce inventory costs by using fewer raw materials.
- Reduce hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal
and/or treatment costs.
- Reduce wastewater disposal and/or treatment costs.
- Reduce environmental cleanup costs
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If improperly managed, these wastes can pose a serious threat to the health
and safety of you and your co-workers, damage the environment, or endanger
your community. Hazardous materials and wastes (defined in Fact Sheet
3 - Defining A Waste) can cause cancer, nerve damage, explosions,
and air and water pollution.
As a responsible member of your community, you will help protect public
health and the environment by knowing what materials and equipment in
your shop may be a safety hazard, what can and cannot be reused or recycled,
and what can and cannot go down the drain or in the trash.
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Fact sheet 1 of 18
Montana State University
Extension Service
Pollution Prevention Program Taylor Hall Bozeman, Montana 59717
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