PACE: Partners for A Clean Environment

Health Concerns
Most shops use solvents in aerosol cans to clean brakes, carburetors, and other parts. Some products contain chlorinated compounds, and most contain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Hazardous chemicals include methylene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and xylene. Petroleum-based solvents can cause nervous system damage and are potentially cancer-causing, and chlorinated solvents are a threat to the earth’s ozone shield.

Waste Issues
Used aerosol cans of hazardous solvent must be completely empty in order to dispose of in a dumpster - cans that contain hazardous solvent are considered hazardous waste. If you use chlorinated solvents which end up mixed with your waste oil, you could contaminate your waste oil.

Cost Savings
With aerosol cans, part of the contents you pay for is propellant, not useful cleaner. You also pay for excess packaging and disposable cans. To use bulk products, you make an initial investment in refillable air-powered cans (about $30 - $80 per can), but you pay much less for the product. Shops report actual savings of $300 to $2,000 per year by using bulk cleaners.

Certification Requirement
To become a certified partner in the PACE program, businesses are required to eliminate or reduce usage of aerosols and chlorinated compounds a minimum of 50% and to purchase products in bulk when possible. The table below lists brake cleaning products that can help meet this requirement. The PACE program in no way endorses any of the companies, nor regards this as a complete list of brake cleaner suppliers.The table below lists several Boulder businesses which use bulk cleaners, and their general comments regarding the products. These businesses have offered to answer any additional questions you have, so feel free to give them a call.

Manufacturer	Types of Products
CRC (800) 521-3168	Produces a non-chlorinated, non-aerosol brake cleaner which can be purchased in bulk. This brake cleaner does not contain any solvents which are listed under the hazardous waste regulations. The CRC brake cleaner must be used in an air-powered canister which can be purchased in various sizes from most auto supply shops for a cost of $40 and $80 depending on type and size.
Misty (970) 224-4740 (303) 988-8231	Distribute bulk, non-chlorinated brake and parts cleaner as well as choke and carb cleaner. Also sell a 16-ounce refillable air-powered canister for about $30. Cost savings by purchasing in bulk rather than aerosol cans are at least $2.50 per gallon.
Safety-Kleen (303) 761-8614	Sell a portable unit, the SK Multi-Level Parts Cleaner which uses their non-toxic, non-flammable aqueous solvent.
Wurth (800) 346-4198	Produces a non-hazardous Brakes & Parts Cleaner for use in their "Sharp Shooter" product, a stainless steel, hand-held, air-powered can which can be refilled. Wurth Brake & Parts Cleaner does not contain any solvents which are "listed" under the hazardous waste regulations. Cost savings by purchasing bulk rather than aerosol cans by the case are at least $2.50 per gallon.
Zep (303) 373-1371	Produces a non-chlorinated, non-aerosol brake cleaner which removes grease, asbestos and dust. It evaporates quickly and leaves no residue, therefore it can be used on all brake products. It meets all OSHA standards. Zep also produces an air-powered stainless steel canister for use with this cleaning product. Cost savings by purchasing in bulk rather than individual cans are over $24 per gallon.

Boulder Businesses and Comments on the Products They Use

Businesses/Contacts and the products they use	# of Years used	Advantages/Disadvantages of the product
The Auto Place-- (303) 443-7088 (Allen) CRC/Silco	7	Advantages: Saves money, wastes less product, has better inventory control, and his employees and customers are satisfied. Disadvantages: None
Boulder Valley Schools-- (303) 447-5129 (Kirk) Safety-Kleen	10	Advantages: Great product--works well. Very user friendly. Simple and easy to use. Disadvantages: None
HonAccurate-- (303) 449-3222 (Dan) Wurth Brake Cleaner	6	Advantages: No strong smell like many other cleaners have. Very effective. Non-chlorinated and non-aerosol so it is safe for the environment. Wurth provides the Sure Shot can free if the company uses its product. Disadvantages: None
Hoshi Motors-- (303) 449-6632 (Lori) Zep	3	Advantages: Works well, although if compared to aerosol, aerosol cans are easier and faster to use than the pressurized cans. Disadvantages: Expensive because some of the product is spilled when loaded into the pressurized cans. Therefore, a large amount of cleaner is wasted. Still cheaper than using aerosols cans.
Import Specialists-- (303) 449-7981 (Carol) Wurth	5	Advantages: Does an excellent job. Leaves no residue. Buying in bulk reduces environmental impacts. Disadvantages: Expensive, only due to the fact that they use large amounts of the product. However, it is still cheaper than using aerosol cans, since aerosol cans waste a lot of the product.
Midas Muffler-- (303) 449-5808 (Jerry) Safety-Kleen	10	Advantages: Very easy to use. Very convenient since it is portable and can roll up to the job. The aqueous solvent is much safer than using a chlorinated solvent. Disadvantages: Expensive, because large amounts of the product must be used to clean the parts. Still cheaper than using aerosol cans.
Pinson Motors-- (303) 443-8820 CRC	3	Advantages: Leaves absolutely no residue. It is non-chlorinated. Disadvantages: None
Verners Auto-- (303) 444-8307 CRC and Zep	10	Advantages: CRC- Dries completely without any residue. Also works well cleaning electrical parts. Zep- Works well, but only used on small parts. Disadvantages: Prefer CRC over Zep because it leaves less residue.

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