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Training and Test
for Surface Cleaners
and Pressure Washers

Pollution Prevention and Environmental Benefits P2 - Pollution Prevention

Pollution prevention (P2) is a fundamental change from the traditional waste management approach; it involves using alternative materials or modifying practices to reduce the use of hazardous materials and minimize waste. The benefits of P2 include reduced costs for raw materials and waste disposal, improved worker health and safety, reduced liability risks, and improved image with customers, employees, and the public. PACE helps businesses learn about these benefits and identify pollution prevention options.

This section presents quantitative estimates of pollution reductions achieved by local businesses as a result of pollution prevention. Calculating the results of the program in terms of pollutants reduced is somewhat difficult due to the diversity of pollution prevention measures implemented and tracking of quantities of pollutants generated at the participating shops. However, many shops provided detailed information to PACE staff during initial and follow-up visits, and these data are summarized in this section.

Quantity of Pollution Reduced

Estimates of annual pollution reductions achieved are summarized below. The reductions were estimated based on information provided by businesses during initial and follow-up visits. The are aggregated across industries and include a variety of pollutants within each category as noted in the table. Because the figures do not include all sources of pollution reductions as noted below, the quantities presented underestimate actual reductions achieved.

The air emissions reduced as part of the program are predominantly volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from auto repair shops and printers, although some hazardous air pollutants have been reduced as well (through switching to non-chlorinated solvents). At auto body shops, high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray guns reduce the amount of paint lost to overspray and thus reduce VOC emissions. Computerized paint mixing in conjunction with HVLPs dramatically reduces the amount of wasted paint for each vehicle. VOC reductions at print shops are primarily achieved through reductions in isopropyl alcohol in fountain solutions, use of less volatile blanket and roller washes, and increased use of vegetable-based inks.

The hazardous waste reductions presented below can be attributed to auto repair shops that switched from hazardous to non-hazardous detergents in their parts washers and brake cleaners. The spent cleaning solution is assumed to be non-hazardous when leaving the shop, although it is possible that the cleaning solution could be contaminated in the shop with chlorinated cleaners, metals, or other contaminants present on the parts being washed. Other hazardous waste reductions were more difficult to quantify, and therefore were not incorporated into totals presented in the table. Examples include reduced waste paint through better housekeeping and the use of HVLP spray guns, reduced waste ink from better housekeeping and monitoring of ink use, and use of silver recovery equipment for photoprocessing systems at print shops.

The solid waste reductions are based on materials that shops have begun to recycle or no longer use. These include spent oil filters and aerosol spray cans (cleaners and paints). Auto shops are required to puncture and drain spent oil filters, but most shops then dispose of the filters. PACE partners are required to recycle the filters (for metal content). PACE certification also requires auto businesses to reduce use of aerosol cans by 50 percent. Many businesses achieve this requirement by purchasing brake and carburetor cleaning fluids in bulk, eliminating a significant number of aerosol cans from the waste stream. Because the program’s primary focus has been on hazardous waste reduction, staff have not collected comprehensive data from businesses on recycling quantities for paper, metal, glass, film, etc.

The reductions in wastewater discharges pertain to the discharge of anti-freeze in the sanitary sewer. Spent anti-freeze is a problem for wastewater treatment plants because it contains concentrations of metals, especially copper. Anti-freeze can be recycled with the use of on-site units which filter out the metals, or it can be collected for off-site recycling.

PACE certification also requires businesses to implement energy and water conservation measures. These requirements have indirect pollution prevention benefits. Reduced energy utilization translates to reduced generation requirements and reduced air emissions from the power plant. Water conservation also leads to decreased water treatment requirements.

Health and Environmental Benefits

Significant health and environmental risks are associated with the use of hazardous materials. VOC air emissions contribute to ground-level ozone formation. Ozone causes smog and is known to aggravate symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Many of the hazardous materials such as solvents used in shops may cause significant health effects or are potentially carcinogenic. Low flash point solvents present flammability concerns for many shops. Spent anti-freeze may contain heavy metals which are an environmental concern. Metals may end up in the sludge generated by the local sewage treatment plant.

Reduced use of hazardous materials result in reduced employee exposure to harmful chemicals, improved worker health and safety, and environmental benefits. In addition, non-hazardous solvents pose less of a risk should a spill occur during transport to off-site treatment or recycling facilities. Eliminating the discharge of anti-freeze to the sewage treatment plant reduces the risk of metals being released in water or sludge from the waste water treatment plant.