In the past year, Intermountain Auto constructed an on-site recycling center to protect the environment while processing cars.  The recycling center provides overhead protection from rain and snow and is constructed on a contained impervious surface to prevent fluids from contaminating stormwater and ground water.  In the recycling center, Intermountain Auto removes hazardous fluids including gasoline, diesel, motor oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and windshield washer fluid.  In the past year, they have processed approximately 1,250 cars and recycled an average of 7,350 gallons of gasoline, 500 gallons of diesel, 1,250 gallons of motor oil, 150 gallons of brake fluid, 315 gallons of windshield washer fluid, 2,500 gallons of antifreeze, and 1,250 gallons of transmission fluid.  If not captured, contained, and reclaimed or properly treated, these hazardous materials could contaminate ground and surface water. 

The motor oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid are used to generate heat in their recycling center with a used oil burner.  Any excess is reused by other businesses or individuals with used oil burners.  The gasoline and diesel fuel is used in business or employee vehicles and equipment after adding a fuel treatment.  The antifreeze and windshield washer fluid is also reused or sold to the public. 

Intermountain Auto works with an ESCO-certified technician to safely remove r-12 and r-134a refrigerants.  The refrigerants are processed for reuse at Intermountain Auto or a repair facility that has licensed technicians.  Refrigerants are stable, nonflammable, and noncorrosive, but if released into the air, refrigerants drift into the upper atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Intermountain Auto recycles batteries from each vehicle and purchases unusable batteries from the public for recycling.  Prior to recycling the batteries, they are stored in a contained area protected from rain or snow.  In the past year, they have recycled about 1,900 batteries.  Additionally, before vehicles are crushed the lead terminals are cut off and recycled.  Spent lead-acid batteries contain lead and corrosive acids and can easily corrode and leak if not properly stored and recycled.

For more information visit Intermountain Auto Recycling's Web site at www.intermountainautorecycling.com.

Information on this Web page represents examples of projects undertaken by the organizations only and does not constitute Departmental certification or approval of compliance at this or any other time with federal, state and/or local regulations, but is solely presented as an example of projects undertaken by organizations in order to prevent pollution and/or conserve resources.