When we think of an auto repair shop, we may consider roaring engines, crude oil, and dirty wrenches, but rarely do we consider its environmental footprint. The repairs are crucial for the longevity and safety of the car, but their toll on the environment is eventually overlooked. This oversight has a growing, daily impact on our environment.
The materials, chemicals, and energy required to repair the car significantly impact the environment, but adopting sustainable practices can reverse the situation. Read this guideline to gain better insights into how these auto repair shops are impacting the environment and how sustainable practices can stop it.
The Impact of Auto Repair Shops on the Environment
The repairer uses the materials, energy, and other resources to repair every car in the garage. According to research in 1998, many developing countries began to embrace the use of unleaded fuel at auto repair shops. Eventually the environment turned toxic. This is more likely due to poor handling of garage waste and other automotive maintenance operations hazardous to the environment. Some of the toxic elements generated from auto shops includes;
- Old paints
- Engine and transmission oil
- Fluorescent tubes
- Photochemical aerosols
- Batteries
- Exhaust systems
- Worn-out tyres
All of these are contributing to long-lasting environmental pollution.
For example, if the repairer replaces the panel of the car. He disposes of the old car metal and plastic parts without following any proper recycling method. This can trigger lethal chemicals to leach into the soil. Not only this, the paint used for car panels also releases volatile organic compounds which can contribute to air pollution and harm humans as well.
The only solution to reduce the impact on the environment is regular vehicle maintenance and following sustainable practices at your repair shop.
Leading Measures for Sustainable Vehicle Repair Shop
With a few changes in the repairing practices, the garage owners can contribute to eco-friendly practices. The few tips are discussed next.
Start with Baby Steps
The things that are required to recycle at your repair shop are:
- R134 refrigerant
- Oil and fluid filters
- Tires
- Antifreeze
- Batteries
You can install your in-house recovery and recycling systems to handle all these components at your shop.
Choose Recycled Parts
Another leading measure is choosing the recycled parts for your vehicle repair. Instead of buying brand-new parts for the smash repair process, the expert repairer should source recycled parts. These parts are budget-friendly, consume less energy, reduce the need for brand-new parts, and lower the overall environmental impact.
Seal your Floor
The auto repair shop should seal the floors. It’s a bigger step to prevent the chemicals or any spills from soaking into the ground or concrete. You can opt for an industrial acrylic system flooring for your repair shop. It’s a water-based coating that provides a drying and anti-slip surface with maximum protection against chemical spills. You can use it for the interior and exterior of your garage.
Recycle Automotive Waste Properly
Automotive waste contains many hazardous chemicals that are harmful to the environment, making recycling mandatory. Otherwise, these substances can finally end up in polluting land. The repairer can collect the used oil and fluids to be re-refined for reuse in fuel or lubricants. Car batteries can be dismantled to recover the lead acid and plastic to manufacture new batteries. Moreover, the tires can be easily shredded into rubber chips, which are then used for building roads. These practices promote a green environment.
Install Right Lighting
Prevent using the fluorescent bulbs in your garage because they contain poisonous chemicals like mercury and phosphorus. When these bulbs break, they also release toxic mercury gas. The repair shop should install LED lighting and turn off the lights in the areas that are not in use. For this, you can install the timers or motion sensor detectors to turn off the light conveniently.
Use Environment-Friendly Paints
The traditional paints and coatings contain volatile organic substances, which are injurious to the environment and humans. The auto repair companies can use water-based and low-volatile compound paints for the vehicles. These types of paint prevent air pollution and add value to a healthy functional environment for the mechanics as well.
How Can Car Owners Support Sustainable Auto Repair Practices?
To reduce the impact of auto repair shops on the environment, car owners should contribute to it. How? The answer is discussed in the next points.
Go for Regular Car Maintenance
The car owners should clean their vehicles regularly to prevent rust and corrosion. You can wash your vehicle and protect the paintwork from scratches with the help of coatings. Not only this, you can take your vehicles regularly to the nearest auto repair shop for regular maintenance. This practice helps you maintain the optimal performance and longevity of the car and prevents costly repairs.
By Driving Eco-Friendly Cars
Investing in eco-friendly or hybrid cars can significantly reduce emissions. In this modern era, to save the environment, many cars run on vegetable oil. You can mix the vegetable oil with the petroleum diesel to avoid any type of clogging issue within your vehicle’s engine.
Support Shops Prefer Renewable Energy
You should prefer the auto repair shop that uses renewable energy sources like solar to power their machinery and tools for repairing vehicles. The mechanics must use energy-efficient equipment and biofuels for heating purposes to lower the impacts on the environment. It not only cuts down carbon penetration but also encourages other shops to go for greener practices.
Conclusion!
Every vehicle repair shop should follow sustainable practices to save the environment at any cost. Whether it’s about installing the in-house recycling system or LED lights, you should go for it to save the world and humans. The next time someone comes to get their car repaired at your shop, consider following the sustainable practices. Hope so, this article helped you in learning something new. Share what you changed in your repair shop by commenting below.
