Road warrior - automobile maintenance and the environment

Sierra, Nov-Dec, 1992 by Marc Lecard

Although a well-maintained motor vehicle should last for years, the very act of maintenance has long left auto parts and fluids clogging alleys and fouling waterways. But these days you can take the edge off the damage used tires, oil, batteries, and antifreeze wreak upon the environment.

To start with, make sure you get rid of your old motor oil properly. You might think that shade-tree mechanics with even minimal environmental consciousness would know not to dump their used crankcase oil on the ground or down the storm drain-- since it flows from there directly into lakes and streams or settles into the water table-but according to the EPA, 91 percent of home oil-changers dispose of their used oil improperly releasing 193 million gallons into the world at large every year. It's become a little easier to find places that will take your used lube; many recycling centers, gas stations, repair shops, and quick oil-changers now accept it. Some states require retailers to accept used oil from their customers, or to list recycling collection centers.

Unfortunately, most of this waste oil is burned rather than cleaned up for reuse. Recent ad campaigns by some of the big oil companies --Mobil, Exxon, Amoco--have touted their used-oil collection programs, but most of what's collected is blended with new oil without refining out lead and other toxics, such as arsenic, zinc, and chromium. The resulting mixture is used as fuel in refineries or sold as residential and industrial heating oil--and when it's burned, the toxics in it are released into the atmosphere.

Legislation now in Congress would declare used motor oil a hazardous waste and regulate the lead content of reused oil. The oil companies oppose the bill, claiming that this would make used motor oil more difficult to collect and recycle by "stigmatizing" it; in the nine states that have similar laws already on the books, however, used-oil collection has increased.

Currently there are only two rerefiners in the country--Evergreen in California and Safety-Kleen in Illinois--that clean up old crankcase oil to the point where it can be used to make new lube. But with increased consumer awareness of the problems caused by dumping or burning old motor oil, the market for re-refiners should grow. Ask your recycling center where they send their collected oil and let them know you'd like it to be processed into new lubricant, not sent skyward in a cloud of toxics. Look for and buy re-refined motor oil, and let your retailer know you prefer it.

Antifreeze is subject to many of the same abuses as motor oil; do-it-yoursellers often dump it into storm drains or on the ground. But used antifreeze is a hazardous waste, according to the EPA. It contains lead, and the main ingredient-ethylene glycol--is toxic. There are processes that can recycle antifreeze completely; call your autorepair shop or local recycling center to see if they accept used antifreeze.

Worn-out tires pose another big disposal problem. Buried in landfills, they tend to pop back to the surface over time; incinerating them releases a host of toxics into the air. There are second uses for your old tires besides tree swings and boat bumpers, however. They can be shredded and used to make things like roofing tiles and rubber mats; added to asphalt, choppedup car tires make a thin, durable paving. In New Mexico, architect Michael Reynolds packs old tires with dirt and uses them (along with aluminum cans, cement, and adobe) to build inexpensive, energy-efficient houses he calls Earthships.

Right now, most tires are either dumped or incinerated; finding a good place to take yours can be difficult. With tipping fees going sky-high, however, and with fewer landfills accepting old tires at any price, recycling is on the rise.

Not long ago, the Freon gas in your car's air conditioner was routinely vented during servicing, releasing CFCs into the atmosphere. Now, however, repair shops nationwide must collect it for cleaning and reuse. This is not something to try at home: The equipment for recycling Freon costs about $3,000. Keep an eye on your airconditioner, and have a repairperson check it for leaks that could be letting CFCs escape.

Batteries are probably the easiest part of your car to recycle, and over 90 percent of those purchased are turned in for reuse. Most states have laws requiring some form of battery recycling, and many retailers will take your old battery from you when you buy a new one. Just about every part of the battery can be used again: The lead is taken out and melted down to be recast; the plastic casings are chipped, melted, and made into new casings; and the sulfuric acid can be cleaned and reused.

Of course, even if you take care to auto-pollute as little as possible--driving a fuel-efficient model, keeping it tuned up, and recycling as much as you can--your automobile is still probably the most environmentally destructive thing you own. So while waiting for electric cars and solarmobiles to hit the market, your best investments might be a comfortable pair of walking shoes, a good bike, and a discount book of bus tickets.