7 minute read
PARTNERS IN PREVENTION
Degreasing Project Shows Safer Alternatives Work
Last summer, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Air Quality Program partnered with the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) on the “Degreasing Project.” The project assessed grease-cleaning products used at auto shops and encouraged shops to switch to degreasers that are better for employee health and the overall air quality of Leech Lake.
Many degreasing products used in auto shops, such as brake cleaners and parts washer solvent, contain harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Spraying VOCs to clean car parts contributes to groundlevel ozone, which makes the air harder to breathe, aggravates asthma and other lung conditions and increases the risk of premature death for those with heart and lung diseases. Exposure to VOCs can cause a range of health effects, from irritating the eyes, nose and throat to other serious illnesses. Some VOCs are suspected or proven carcinogens.
It can be extremely challenging for the average consumer to make a good decision about what is a safer product. The chemistry in degreasers varies greatly from can to can. Cans may look identical and have the same product name. Anthony Mazzini, a Minnesota Green Corps member, made connections with auto shops and worked with them through the process.
Aerosol degreasers
First, Mazzini assisted shops in assessing their current aerosol degreasers. If a safer alternative was recommended, a shop received a few options to sample. Shops that identified an effective alternative and were willing to switch were offered a month’s supply to get them started. Safer products were sourced from local Auto Value, Napa and O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. Degreasers with blends of acetone, heptane and hydrotreated light petroleum naptha were tested as replacements for more hazardous blends containing xylene, toluene, PERC, TCE and methanol.
One lesson learned was that it’s important to check the fine print – the parts number – to make sure you’re getting the product you want.
Parts Washers
Two styles of parts washer were demonstrated as alternatives to solvent-based parts washer.
The SmartWasher Parts Washer uses OzzyJuice, an aqueous cleaning solution that uses microbes to break down grease and oil into carbon dioxide and water. By breaking down oil, the microbes “clean” the solution and extend its lifespan. If properly managed, aqueous parts washers can reduce hazardous waste licensing and disposal costs. For requirements on evaluating, storing and disposing spent aqueous-based parts washer solution, see Minnesota Pollution Control Agency factsheet Aqueous-Based Parts Washers, w-hw4-44, at pca.state.
mn.us/sites/default/files/w-hw4-44.
pdf.
Ultrasonic parts washers use cavitation, or scubbing bubbles, to remove grease from parts. Ultrasonics can be added to cleaning systems, aqueous or otherwise, to increase cleaning effectiveness. They range in size from countertop to large industrial units and are effective for many kinds of general parts cleaning.
The Results
Overall, 13 out of 21 auto shops switched to a safer alternative degreaser.
The Leech Lake Community Service Garage found a low VOC brake cleaner that worked similarly to their current high VOC brake cleaner. They also implemented a CRC SmartWasher with OzzyJuice formulation SW7.
They were able to achieve a higher level of cleanliness for their customers and reduce their brake cleaner consumption by 80 percent. Less brake cleaner also means less cans in the garbage, reducing the pounds of solid waste sent to landfill.
“The parts washer works wonders. I barely use the [brake cleaner] spray cans and I like the parts washer better,” said Rupert Olsen, a technician at the Community Service Garage. “[Spray can] fumes are nasty. I take parts off, clean them up in the parts washer, and a little water cleans them right up.”
Other participants noted about safer degreasers, “My hands didn’t dry up as much” and “It didn’t smell as much.”
The Community Service Garage reduced their annual VOCs and HAPs emissions by 56 pounds and 22 pounds respectively. That is about the same amount of pollution that comes from using one can of spray paint per week. Just one shop can see a dramatic difference in the amount of pollutants it puts into the air.
Find an alternative for your shop
The degreasing project shows that effective, safer degreasers are available. If you’d like to investigate your cleaners to see if there is a safer alternative, MnTAP offers no-cost technical assistance to small and medium-size Minnesota businesses. Call Jane Paulson at (612) 624-1826 or e-mail janep2@umn.edu.
Visit MnTAP’s website to find safer products and ingredients to avoid at mntap.umn.edu/industries/air/ degreasing.html.
For more information on Leech Lakes’ air quality projects, contact Brandy Toft at brandy.toft@llojibwe. net.
Disclaimer: Mentioning products in this article does not imply MPCA endorsement. Product selection and use should be evaluated by the facility on a case-by-case basis.
VOC and HAP reductions at Community Service Garage
Two Great Companies. One Great Program.
continued from pg. 4 For the past 25 years and nine months, I never felt that way. I looked forward to each day.
I want to express my sincere “Thank you!” to all and wish you the very best for the future. It has been my great honor and pleasure to serve as your executive director!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
continued from pg. 5 you wanted to see how they are doing.
With a commitment of just three or four hours per year, you can have two or three close contacts each with your Senator and Representative, contacts that can go a long way later down the road.
Before you engage in this process, take 10 minutes to learn a little bit about your legislators. The Minnesota Legislature website is a great resource. There are links to “who represents me” for both the House and Senate. There is a profile for each legislator that will tell you how long they have served, which Committees they serve on and a bit of biographical information.
Keep in mind that new legislative district boundaries must be drawn in 2022 — based on the 2020 census data. This means your legislator may be shifted into another district or two legislators may get squeezed together. AASP-MN can help sort all of this out as we get into the summer of 2022 and we begin our work of getting to know the newest cast of characters who will be representing us at the State Capitol.
In the meantime, if you have questions, the AASPMN staff and lobbying team is happy to discuss the process further with any individual member. Give us a call!
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