When it comes to the environment, there are very few businesses that produce enough waste to make a big impact. Fortunately, automotive shops are one of the main businesses that offer great potential to make a change. Here at Luke’s Auto Service in Verona, New Jersey, our technicians step up and help reduce waste by not only recycling, but also taking precautionary measures to ensure they are making environmentally-friendly choices.
What We Recycle:
Batteries/Battery Acid: Did you know car batteries must be replaced every three to four years? In fact, we use Interstate Batteries which is a company that has turned batteries into one of America’s greatest recycling successes. On the Interstate Batteries website, it shows that with over 65 years of experience, they surprisingly recycle more batteries than they sell! They ensure that batteries are properly stored, transported, and packaged so that they can be sent to the proper recycling facility. Not only do we recycle our batteries, we even recycle old battery acid which can be turned into chemicals used in products such as laundry detergent or even glass!
All vehicles fluids, used or worn out parts: 75% of your car’s parts can be recycled!
Tires: Recycling tires is a huge benefit to the environment considering they take 50 to 80 years to decompose! Tires can be reclaimed into recycled asphalt pavement, new tires, construction materials, or even artificial reefs!
Scrap Metal: Scrap metal, such as old exhaust, is sent to recycling from Luke’s Auto! Saving energy from recycling one ton of aluminum is equal to the amount of energy used to power the average home for 10 years! We have recycled more than one ton of scrap metal here!
Refrigerant: Lastly, we make sure to recover and recycle all air conditioning refrigerant because this reduces greenhouse gases escaping into the air.
What We Do Beyond Recycling:
Using Refillable Spray Bottles: As technicians, we know that many liquids are used in automotive shops. Most cleaning products are sprayed out of a bottle. Instead of throwing out the bottle every time, we just refill it from a larger, bulk container and reuse the same bottle!
Purchasing Supplies in Bulk: We reduce waste by purchasing the supplies that we use regularly, such as antifreeze and oil, in bulk! This reduces packaging and shipping materials used which saves a lot of plastic, Styrofoam, and cardboard.
What You Can Do!
Be cautious of these parts and have us check them if you have any concerns!
Spark Plugs: Dirty spark plugs can cause misfiring which wastes fuel.
Gas Cap: A loose or cracked gas cap will not only set off your check engine light, it will also allow gas to escape from your tank as vapor. This also wastes excess fuel.
Check Your Tires: By having proper tire pressure, this can improve your gas mileage by 3.3 percent! If your tires are poorly inflated, your engine will work harder and waste more gas.
Wheel Alignment: If your wheel alignment is off, this will burn excess fuel because the wheels will have more friction than what is normal!
Air Filters: An air filter that is clogged creates a mixture that causes the engine to lose power. By replacing it, this will improve your car’s overall performance and acceleration.
Cooling System: If your cooling system is too low, this will reduce the fuel efficiency of your car. Have us inspect it to lower emissions and protect your engine.
Check Your Trunk: The more weight you have in your car, the more fuel you burn. Be sure to clean out your car and remove everything you don’t need!
Use Cruise Control: Speeding up and slowing down burns excess gas. By using cruise control, this forces your car to maintain a constant speed on highways or long road trips.
Since cars top the list of most recycled consumer products, automotive shops offer so many opportunities to contribute to a healthier planet! Luke’s Auto Service in Essex County happily assists this cause!
Image: (www.interstatebatteries.com/recycling)