Cars and trucks are the number one recycled product in America. About 8 million cars and 5 million trucks are recycled every year. There are well over 7,000 auto recycling operations nationwide.

In California, with more cars registered than any other state, up to 2.5 million vehicles are brought to salvage yards each year; about 700,000 of these are shredded for their metals. State and local agencies are working with the industry to improve environmental compliance and prevent pollution at salvage yards throughout the state.

These mostly-small businesses often have environmental compliance problems that fall within EPA’s authority under clean air, stormwater and hazardous waste regulations. The products and practices used by auto salvage businesses have the potential to pollute the land, ground water and the air. One of the primary threats is polluted stormwater runoff resulting from the mishandling of vehicular fluids (see list, below).

Shiny soil surface at this salvage yard after a rainstorm indicates spilled fluids, a source of polluted runoff.

Potential damage from the following fluids:

• gasoline diesel fuel oil
• transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid
• mineral spirits, washer fluid, gear oil
• battery acid, solvents

Other hazardous and solid wastes that could contaminate and/or pollute the air:

• mercury from switches, lamps and electronic devices (navigation aids, CD players)
• lead from lead-acid batteries, wheel weights, battery cable ends
• CFCs and other refrigerants
• sodium azide from air bags
• asbestos from brake shoes and clutches
• tires (whole, shredded)
• PCB from foam rubber, carpets and plastic components
• metals: aluminum, cadmium, copper, iron,zinc, lead
• plastics
• transmission and oil filters

EPA’s workshops and environmental audit policy

EPA regularly conducts workshops to promote compliance assistance and compliance incentives. The Agency’s environmental self-audit policy requires actions to reduce, treat, or eliminate pollutants. The self-audit policy provides major incentives for facilities that voluntarily discover, promptly disclose, and expeditiously correct compliance problems.