California Auto Recyclers Develop Green Yards

In the state of California alone, approximately 1.3waste products. These include gasoline, motor oil,
million vehicles achieve end of life status eachtransmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, mercury
year. These vehicles have either been involved inand Freon. Auto recyclers provide necessary
collisions where the cost to repair them outweighsservices that ensure that these hazardous
the value of the automobile or the determinationcomponents are removed from automobiles
is made by the individual of the vehicle based onbefore it is to a shredder for recycling.
the cost of repair. Either way that is an incredibleWith over two hundred members located
amount of vehicles that must be dealt with. Whenthroughout the state, SCADA works to ensure
one considers all of the hazardous waste that isthat its members are in full compliance with
contained within each automobile, the imagefederal, state and local laws. Auto recyclers in
quickly takes on nightmare states in terms ofCalifornia are the state’s first best defense
negative impact on California’s environment.against environmental pollution from end of life
This is where auto recyclers state wide becomeautomobiles.
major players on the green field of environmentalIt has been estimated that in California and
protection. Although most individuals never givethroughout the country automotive recyclers
much thought to the important role that autohave spent nearly $50 million dollars on
recycler’s play in day-to-day life, image whatenvironmental compliance. This industry is one of
would happen if they ceased to exist. Withoutthe fastest growing and has one of the highest
auto recyclers, these vehicles may be abandonedcompliance records of all industries involved in
in empty lots, left along roadsides and clog landfills.hazardous waste handling in the United States
Among other reasons the State of California Autotoday.
Dismantlers Association was formed to assistBy forming partnerships working in conjunction
individual auto recyclers in complying with industrywith SCADA and the Environmental Protection
regulations and to act as a liaison between autoAgency, SCADA assists federal and state
recyclers and government entities. This is apersonnel in conducting compliance assistance
statewide trade organization that helpsinspections at auto recycling facilities throughout
disseminate information concerning the latestthe state. In this manner, smaller based auto
trade information to individual auto recyclers. Onerecyclers were able to get assistance through
of the functions that SCADA has acquired infederal and state grants that ensure they are
recent years, is to assist auto recyclersable to meet the compliance guidelines without
throughout the state of California maintainundue financial strain.
compliance with important environmentalPartnerships such as the ones described above
regulations. With increased environmentalhelp ensure that auto recycling facilities are
awareness and the desire to protect the statesbecoming green recycling yards. Working in
delicate natural resources, auto recyclers arecooperation with the EPA and the state trade
working harder than ever to create green yardsassociation, auto recyclers that have had difficulty
that contain automobile waste products and eithercomplying with EPA regulations get the assistance
safely recycle them or ensure safe disposal.required to bring each auto recycling facility up to
SCADA is instrumental in helping to achieve this.the green yard standards that work best for the
It has been determined that the averagestate of California.
passenger automobile contains seven hazardous