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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ? Sept. 16, 1998
98-163
Contacts: Joye Redfield-Wilder, Public Information Manager, (509)
575-2610
Jan Brydsen, Hazardous-waste Technical-assistance Officer, (509) 457-2477
An estimated 200,000 vehicles are discarded in Washington state each year. Disposing these vehicles poses a special environmental challenge for those in the auto-recycling business.
Vehicle fluids ? oil, brake fluids, antifreeze ? are chemicals that can compound waste problems by contaminating wash water, sludge or bare ground with hazardous materials. In a good auto-recycling operation, these fluids and many other items, such as oil filters, tires and window cleaner, may be recycled.
"Auto-recyclers offer an invaluable service, finding new uses for old cars and old car parts," said Jan Brydsen, of Ecology's hazardous-waste and toxics-reduction program. "This campaign takes that recycling concept a step further and shows auto wreckers how to safely collect vehicle fluids, handle old batteries, and assure spills and accidents don't happen at the work site."
Auto-recyclers can learn specific ways to protect the environment from a new vehicle recycling manual, "You Auto Recycle, the Key to a Better Environment," and companion video now being distributed by Ecology.
Some 500 manuals and videos, produced with grant money from Ecology and a variety of industry sources, will be sent to auto-recyclers throughout Eastern Washington and AROW members throughout the state. Manuals also are available in Spanish.
"The industry is moving in the right direction," Brydsen said. "Now, 75 percent of vehicle materials are recycled -- and some new vehicles are nearly 100 percent recyclable."
For more information on this program, contact your regional office of the state Department of Ecology, listed in the phone book, or Automotive Recyclers of Washington, 1233 S. Director St., Seattle, Wash., 98108, (206) 767-3149.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
