Many automotive fluids are toxic, so it is important
to keep from spilling any of them into the environment where
they can
enter run-off
and
pollute
our
waters.
With
a little care and attention, car maintenance can be water quality friendly.
A single gallon of motor oil has the potential to pollute one
million gallons of drinking water, so be careful if you change your own oil
and make sure you dispose of it properly. Never dispose of used oil on the
ground, into storm drains, sewers, or septic systems.
Proper motor oil disposal depends on what county you're in.
On O‘ahu:
Most local auto
parts stores sell "Oil Change" boxes, which consist of a plastic bag full of absorbent material in a small cardboard box. Simply drain your oil into the box, tie up the bag, and dispose of the entire box with your houshold trash (this is OK because H-Power incinerates our trash).
A number of locations
will accept used oil from home mechanics.
The oil and container must both be clean
and the
oil must not be mixed with water or other auto fluids. Never
use containers that once held bleach or other hazardous materials.
Select your island for more details on when and where you can drop
it off.
You now have the option of completing the recycling circle by buying back
the oil you just recycled in the form of re-refined motor oil.
These oils contain 100% re-refined oil in the base stock and meet API and
SAE performance specifications and claim to match the performance
of
new motor
oil. Check out this page for a list of companies and other information
about re-refined oil.
It's a good idea to always place a tarp under your car when you
work on it. A tarp is handy for a bunch of reasons:
It catches drips that you can then wipe up;
If the tarp is a bright color, it makes it easier to find small parts and tools;
The smooth surface helps you slide around while you're on your back;
If you're doing body work outside, the tarp will catch dust and other material
resulting from grinding so you can dispose of it in your trash; and
It seperates you from any dirt or debris that might be on the road.
Sweep, Don't Hose
Do not clean up spills by hosing your driveway off. This
just directs toxic fluids down stormdrains and into the streams. Instead,
always keep some kind of adsorbent material (like kitty litter) on hand when
you're
working
on your car. That way you can immediately cover any
spills, sweep them up,
and put them in a plastic bag which you can dispose of in the trash.
Engine coolants/antifreeze especially need to be wiped up because they pose
a danger to household pets and small children (as well as to fish and coral
reefs). These fluids taste really sweet, but they are poisonous (...and
yes, we do use these things in Hawai‘i)!
If at all possible, wash your car directly over a lawn or some other permeable surface. This waters your lawn while also letting the soapy water soak into the ground instead of running off into a local waterbody. Another added benefit is that while grass is relatively tolerant of soap, many pest insects are not.
If you do wash your car in the driveway, sweep it first. This helps keep trash and yard debris from flowing into storm drains along with your wash water.
Dish soap works great on cars, but as with all cleaning applications,
try to use phosphate-free soap. Keep in mind that although lots of soaps claim
to be Environmentally Friendly, very few are phosphate-free. We have provided
information on phosphate-free dishsoaps on the Household
BMP page under "Choose
Environmentally Friendlier Products".
Another option is to take
your car to a commercial car wash that has a recycle system and discharges
wastewater to the sanitary sewer for treatment. Don't know if your local car
wash recycles their water? Try ask!
Other Water Friendly Car-Washing Tips
Always use a nozzle on your hose to save water (and reduce runoff).