Arizona launches “green” auto repair shop initiative

Phoenix, AZ— Arizona Department of Environmental Quality director Steve Owens announced that ADEQ has launched its Arizona Green Business initiative, which will encourage auto repair shop owners, managers, and employees to reduce hazardous waste through the use of established pollution prevention practices and certify shops that meet environmental protection standards.

Auto repair shop owners who follow ADEQ’s pollution prevention program can make a significant environmental impact by eliminating or reducing hazardous waste going to landfills and diverting potentially contaminated water from unprotected storm drains and waterways.

Shops that successfully adopt the pollution prevention techniques will be certified as Arizona Green Businesses and will receive the program’s logo to display at their facility and use in marketing and advertising.

By using water-based cleaning systems instead of harmful chemicals, shops reduce employees’ exposure to harmful chemicals, and reduce their use of solvents, resulting in less pollution and lowered costs. An average shop can reduce solvent use by about 160 gallons per year by using an Aqueous Parts Cleanings System.

ADEQ is partnering with AAA Arizona to launch the initiative and will help guide AAA Arizona in inspecting and certifying. There are 175 repair shops affiliated with AAA Arizona throughout the state, and AAA Arizona will encourage these shops to move toward Green Business certification. AAA’s club-owned auto repair facility in Peoria is the first ADEQ-designated Green Business.

Non-AAA shops that meet ADEQ’s criteria are also eligible for the Green Business designation. AAA Arizona has agreed to inspect and certify these shops as well, following ADEQ’s procedures and guidelines.