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Auto Repair and Fleet Maintenance Pollution Preventions
How to Use These Materials for Pollution Prevention Outreach
These materials on Pollution Prevention for auto repair and fleet maintenance were developed to give environmental programs, technical assistance providers, and trade associations high quality materials for use in their outreach programs to business. At this time, EPA cannot provide large quantities of the fact sheets and videos. However, we have made it easy for you to customize and reproduce these materials to suit your needs.
On this page:
- How to customize and reproduce the fact sheets
- How to reproduce the video
- How and why the fact sheets and videos were created
- Tips on ssing these materials in outreach/technical assistance programs
How to customize and reproduce the fact sheets
For fewer than 300 copies: We recommend you color photocopy the fact sheets you intend to use. There is a space on the back of each fact sheet for you to attach a label with your agency contact information. You can package these in a regular file or presentation folder, and affix your own label.For more than 300 copies: We suggest you have the fact sheets and file folders professionally printed. We can provide the original page layout files (with fonts and printing instructions) on CD ROM, which can be accessed by most graphic designers and printers. We encourage programs to add their logo, agency contact information, and any specific regulatory language to customize the fact sheets to your needs.
Estimated price: $5000 for 400 copies, including custom die-cut folder
To order CD-ROM, contact Leif Magnuson via email: magnuson.leif@epa.gov
How to reproduce the video
We have available for loan Beta-cam video masters of the auto and fleet videos for duplication. Depending on the number you need, copies can run as little as $2.00 apiece.
To order video master, contact Leif Magnuson via email: magnuson.leif@epa.gov
How and why the fact sheets and videos were created
This information was developed by Region 9's Pollution Prevention program with the guidance of two advisory boards comprised of Pollution Prevention experts in the auto repair and fleet maintenance sectors. The project began in early 1998. Due to our past experiences working with small businesses in general, and the auto repair and fleet maintenance sectors in particular, we found that in order to be effective, P2 information must:- Focus on the top "fixes" in a given industry sector which give the greatest environmental benefit at a reasonable cost to business;
- Provide detailed information including complete environmental, technical and economic evaluations of those "fixes," along with convincing case studies;
- Integrate the information into a user-friendly set of materials which is complete, concise, and easily accessible.
With these operating principles in mind, we began a materials development process that had as its goal the creation of high quality P2 information for the auto repair and fleet maintenance sectors. We wanted the information to be relevant and useful anywhere in the U.S. and possibly in other countries as well. We felt that if we could accomplish these goals, we could assist P2 champions in industry and technical assistance programs by giving them the tools they need to inspire action to reduce wastes and prevent pollution. Hopefully, we also wanted to spare programs the cost and staff time of developing these materials for themselves.
We are very aware that the real trick in getting P2 implemented on the ground comes at the local, not federal, level. Whether inside the vehicle maintenance operation or the local technical assistance program, the "human factor" - individual creativity and talent - is what makes or breaks P2 implementation. There is no substitute for the inspired P2 champion. We only hope that our efforts will fuel his or her imagination.
Tips on using these materials in outreach/technical assistance programs
- Do your own field verifications of these "fixes" using local shops/fleet operations to create local success stories and champions who will speak up on behalf of the efficacy of the "fixes."
- Gather good data using our forms where possible and write up the case studies. Numbers motivate! Solicit volunteer demonstration sites from local trade associations. Most members are very proactive and happy to share their experiences.
- Hold training workshops in the evening (6-9pm) or during existing trade association meetings or conferences. Auto repair shop owners/technicians never show up during the day, though fleet personnel might.
- Since implementing all these "fixes" at once is daunting, consider offering a program where participating companies implement one P2 "fix" at a time over a 12-16 month period. Perhaps get sponsorship from the local trade association and show up at their regular dinner meetings every month/two months to present the new topic, then offer them implementation assistance during the interval between meetings. Any shop/fleet which implements 80% of the fixes gets some form of recognition!
- For information on successful business recognition programs for auto
repair and fleet maintenance operations see: http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/enviro/gbus/gb.html
for
information on the San Francisco Bay Area Green business program (includes
compliance and P2 checklists), or http://www.envirostars.com/ for
information on the Seattle, Washington area Envirostars program. - If you have a local CESQG hazardous waste collection program use it as incentive to get vehicle repair operations to reduce wastes. Document the benefits and tell the success stories. You can use the waste generation tables inside the fact sheet entitled "Profit Through Prevention" to help determine generator status and track progress.
- These materials can be a useful membership benefit for trade associations that serve auto repair or fleet maintenance staff or managers. We would welcome the opportunity to work with interested associations to distribute these materials to your members. For more information, contact Leif Magnuson or John Katz.
Good luck!
Let us know what else you come up with. Send auto repair outreach/assistance tips to Leif Magnuson (magnuson.leif@epa.gov), and fleet maintenance to John Katz (katz.john@epa.gov).