Green Commitment
We feel a serious responsibility to mitigate the potentially damaging impact the automotive repair and maintenance
business can have on the environment. To ensure that the work we do at Pellman's has a minimal effect on our
surrounding air, water, and soil, we take the following steps in the course of our daily work:
REDUCE
- We use low-impact, environmentally friendly non-chlorinated cleaners and solvents
- We purchase in bulk wherever feasible to minimize packaging
- We pre-cycle by purchasing recycled office paper and refilled ink cartridges
- We use cloth towels and rags instead of paper to clean surfaces. (All rags are sent out for a special cleaning process that disposes of all oil residue properly.)
- We reduce the use of aerosols through the use of refillable spray bottles where possible.
- We use a 100% contained floor cleaner - Samboni (picture below) - to clean the shop floors. Very little waste water escapes this
contained cleaner.
- The little floor waste water that does not end up in our Samboni goes into a sand trap where the solids are separated, then hauled off by an approved waste disposal company.
REUSE/REPROCESS
Air Conditioning
When AC repairs are done, we recover refrigerant from each vehicle, clean it and then return it to the car after the repair is made. All of our technicians are trained and certified for AC repair.
Auto Parts
Many of our "hard" parts, such as engines, starters, alternators, clutches and transmissions, can be sent back to the manufacturer or to a specialist to be rebuilt or remanufactured. Old car batteries are returned to the supplier to be melted down and remanufactured into brand new batteries.
Waste Oil
Our waste oil is picked up by an approved recycling company that diverts materials from disposal by turning waste products into raw materials. This also keeps these toxic materials from contaminating the water system. We also crush our oil filters, to recover as much oil as possible for recycling.
Chemicals
Antifreeze is picked up by an outside company that cleans and re-processes it into recycled coolant. Recycling coolant keeps harmful antifreeze components from entering the environment. It also reduces the burden on natural resources, eliminating the need to manufacture glycol from petroleum and natural gas.
Tires
Discarded tires are picked up by a company that shreds them and then uses the product for mulch.
Not one used tire from our shop goes into a landfill. A State tax is charged on each tire that we sell.
This fee is used by local governments to purchase materials made from reprocessed tires.
RECYCLE
A local recycling company picks up our paper, paperboard, cardboard, aluminum, steel and glass weekly.
Steel, aluminum and other metals are collected, and recycled. Heavy metals are also reclaimed out of catalytic converters and radiators.
OTHER STEPS WE TAKE
We partner with PACE and the Green Heart Institute, local companies that are helping to encourage and recognize environmentally friendly businesses. Pellman's Automotive is a Greenheart Expert Guides Forum sustainable practices expert
We take an active role in on-going employee and customer education about recycling and environmental responsibility.
We offset our carbon footprint on our shuttle van so it is 100% wind-powered.
