Contacts for the Automotive Service Council and Agencies with Hazardous Waste Reduction Programs

Contacts

Hazardous Waste Reduction Trade Associations Automotive Service Council	(213) 837-0446 Waste
Department of Health Services
Main Number	(213) 620-2380
Alternate Technology	(916) 324-1807
Hazardous Waste Haulers Facts	(916) 324-2428
Agencies with Waste Reduction Programs
County of Los Angeles - Health	(213) 744-3223
County of Los Angeles - Public Works	(818) 458-3561
City of Santa Monica	(213) 458-8228
California Waste Exchange	(916) 324-1867
Used Oil Recycling Program	(800) 553-2962
Small Quantity Hazardous Waste Generator Information and Technical Assistance Clearinghouse	(800) 458-5886
South Coast Air Quality Management District	(818) 571-5196
Small Business Assistance Loans: Automotive Painting
U.S. Small Business Administration	(213) 894-6852
State Department of Health Services: City of Santa Monica	(916) 324-1807 Department of General Services
Hazardous Waste Reduction Loan Program	(213) 382-4300 (213) 458-8228

or

City of Santa Monica
Department of General Services
(213) 739-2999
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Saves You Money

It's a proven fact that you will save money by reducing the amount of hazardous waste your business produces. Cost savings result from:

• More efficient use of process materials
  
• Reduced waste disposal expense and liability

When you reduce hazardous waste, you help protect the public's health and the environment.

• Train employees on proper hazardous materials management and waste reduction.
  
• Keep your shop clean and orderly to eliminate spills and leaks.
  
• Materials recovery and recycling are the best methods for reducing the use of thinners, solvents, paint sludges, used oils and other fluids.
  
• Segregate paint and thinner wastes by type to facilitate recycling when possible.
  
• Eliminate contamination of the pavement or soils by capturing all spills and runoff with drip pans or trays.
  
• Estimate and use only the amount of paint necessary for a job to reduce paint waste.
  
• Keep containers closed to prevent evaporation.
  
• Separate thinners from point sludges by gravity separation and use over again.

• For larger volumes of solvent waste, install on-site distillation units.
  
• Use high volume, low pressure spray guns.
  
• Phase in low VOC paints and primers.
  
• Use enclosed spray equipment cleaning systems.

1. Current Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and State regulations require generators of wastes such as paint, point thinners, paint sludges, and solvents to be handled as hazardous wastes.
   
2. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulates the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCS) for paints used and the amount of solvent emissions to the air. Compliance with SCAQMD regulations will reduce waste generation rates.
   
3. The discharge of flammable solvents or points to the sewer or the discharge of any paint related substances to the storm drain is strictly prohibited.

Typical Waste For

Some of the typical wastes that can be reduced are spent thinners, thinners in water from clarifiers, shop runoff, and paint sludge.

Collision damaged vehicles can be a source of hazardous waste because of leaking engine fluids such as antifreeze, engine oil, and hydraulic broke fluid. Most paints contain highly toxic pigments derived from heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, zinc, and lead. Contaminated thinners contain paint sludge generated from paint operations. It is estimated that one gallon of sludge is generated from every 120 gallons of solvent-based products used.