November 2019

Below: Recyclable industrial cleaning wipes are more absorbent, easier and safer to use and envi- ronmentally friendly BY Trevor Hudson, Sales Director, Mewa UK Textile Services W ith increasingly stringent environmental and health and safety regulations the days of traditional cleaning methods for the automotive sector are numbered. In their place are new materials and support services that can offer considerable commercial advantages. For the automotive industry, as with any other commercial and industrial sector, waste and waste diposal is a challenging but fundamental issue. Any and all businesses produce waste materials that require responsible and safe disposal. For the automotive sector though, many of the commonly produced wastes found in vehicle maintenance, dismantling and construction activities are judged hazardous, so must be disposed of in the correct manner. In the UK, for example, hydraulic oils are specifically detailed as hazardous materials under Environment Agency guidance. Thus, where they contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) they are given the code 13-01-01. Mineral-based and non-chlorinated hydraulic fluids are denoted with the 13-01-09 classification but in any event both groups are classed as hazardous, as are materials like engine oils, insulating and transmission oils. Fuel oil, diesel and petrol as well as mixed fuels also fall into the hazardous category. Air bags, batteries, catalytic converters, even whole end of life vehicles are classed as hazardous waste unless appropriate de-pollution measures have been undertaken. In addition, contaminated materials may also be classified as hazardous waste. Clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances are given the code 15-02- 02 by the UK Environment Agency and must therefore be disposed of appropriately. As a result, in Europe and many other parts of the world, stringent regulations are imposed that see companies and their directors fined or even jailed for failure to comply with all the appropriate waste disposal regulations. In the UK, business owners have a specific ‘duty of care’ that means they must ensure that any hazardous waste produced or handled by their business causes no harm or damage. Furthermore, it is illegal mix hazardous wastes. For instance, many vehicle fluids and oils must not be mixed, such as mineral oils, anti- freeze, screen washing fluids and oily water. Today, common practices now fall foul of the law. For instance it is prohibited to put a used oil filter and an oily rag in the same bin. The Environment Agency's definition and classification of hazardous waste is incorporated in the European Waste Catalogue. Both inevitably change and today many wastes are newly classified as 'hazardous'. As a result, automotive workshops and their supply chain partner companies may now find themselves dealing with hazardous waste consignments for the first time. For example, in July 2004 the co- disposal of hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste at the same landfill site was prohibited and a year later the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) came into force. Automotive business owners are required to keep waste to a minimum by doing everything reasonably possible to, in order of preference, prevent, reuse, recycle or recover waste and sort and store waste safely and securely. Furthermore, business owners are obligated to complete a waste transfer note for each load of waste that leaves their premises and check if the waste carrier is registered to dispose of said waste materials. Where hazardous waste is being produced, business owners have additional responsibilities. For example, in England a business producing hazardous waste must classify the waste, separate and store any hazardous waste safely and use authorised businesses for its collection, recycling or disposal. Business must also meet the further requirements for waste carriers if they transport any hazardous waste from their premises. Naturally, businesses are prohibited from disposing of waste illegally and must report those they suspect of such crimes. If successfully prosecuted for breaching the appropriate laws in lower courts individuals or businesses face an unlimited fine and/or six months' imprisonment. More serious offences prosecuted in higher courts 18 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2019 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net KEEPING IT CLEAN FOR AUTOMOTIVE Higher standards and expectations mean a better level of clean-up in the workshop is both required and desirable