Why is this important?
Garage waste risks being disregarded because repair and maintenance are mostly operated by subcontractors and therefore not directly visible for an organisation. Moreover, to reduce the impact of vehicles, it is recommended to maintain them and keep them longer, which also results in an increase in workshop waste.
An important amount of garage waste is categorised as hazardous waste: Engine oil, lubricants and air condition refrigerants are harmful when produced in high volumes, together with tyres and oil filters. Used engine or gearbox oils, and associated used filters, may contain metal residues and phosphates, and contaminate soil and water. (1) Engine coolants made of propylene glycol are less toxic than the one made of ethylene glycol. Used brake fluid is harmful for the skin, eyes, or if ingested. Contaminated fuels may contain unknown hazardous substance. Wastewater from workshops / garages can contain various contaminants (e.g. fuel, oil, grease, battery acid, brake fluid, engine coolant).
Glass, air filters, and general waste are considered non-hazardous and can be disposed of safely in most countries applying waste management principles. Tyres are non-hazardous, but their uncontrolled burning or disposal can release very toxic fumes. Same for vehicle lead-acid batteries, which are usually made of recycled material and can be themselves recyclable with infrastructure found in many countries.
Finally, end of life vehicles or engines can still contain hazardous fuels, oils, and lubricants and must be treated cautiously.
What is the solution?
First, reduce the quantity of garage waste whilst ensuring regular maintenance is performed. Purchase genuine quality spare parts and consumables, including fuel. Garage waste must be monitored and analysed, and existing facilities assessed. Before sending the waste to recycling or proper disposal, a safe storage will be indispensable.
Then, each type of workshop waste has a suitable solution, but it requires a qualified facility, properly assessed and visited regularly: Lead-acid Batteries are 98% recyclable into new batteries, old tyres can also be reused or recycled, as well as metallic parts such as brake pads, shoe and clutch plates. Other part like oil and air filters will need incineration or eventual encapsulation, and oil filters could be replaced by oil-recycling Nitifilters.
Point of attention
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Point of attention
To reduce vehicle’s production impact, it is recommended to extend their lifespan. And to remain safe and reliable, older vehicles or engines that require more frequent maintenance, generate more workshop waste.
- In remote areas, garage waste may need to be transported to the capital or nearest large city to be treated properly. Ensure good storage then use reverse logistics to avoid unnecessary transportation.
- Recycling garage waste requires protective equipment and measures, in particular, for used Lead-Acid battery recycling for example. (7)
Key actions
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#1 Reduce garage waste
Reducing garage waste starts with right-sizing the fleet, using well dimensioned vehicles and generators, adapted to the need. An under-used generator will pollute more and get damaged more rapidly. Likewise, a city car in the bush will require more maintenance and repair than a more robust 4×4, outweighing the extra fuel consumption. Purchase new, genuine parts and tyres, as they are more durable and reliable. Choose quality oils and lubricants, and even fuel. Choose propylene glycol coolants, less toxic than ethylene glycol, Nitifilters which recycle oil and reduce consumption.
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#2 Monitor and analyse garage waste
Establish a baseline of waste generated by the fleet, engines and pumps (types of waste and quantities). Clearly identify different waste production trends (e.g., oils, tires, batteries, metal parts) according to fleet’s age and maintenance needs.
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#3 Develop and apply a garage waste management plan
Set specific, measurable goals for waste reduction. Assess infrastructures and opportunities for recycling and treatment and develop a policy to reduce reuse and recycle garage waste.
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#4 Segregate and store garage waste
Storing is the interim solution until proper waste management solutions are found or while waiting for the next transport to centralised recycling/treatment facility. Apply good storage practices in dry, ventilated places, and remain vigilant of non-compatible products (for example diesel and chlorine stored together are explosive).
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#5 Use reverse logistic to transport garage waste
Use delivery transport to take back garage waste from remote locations and avoid extra transport for it.
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#6 Send Garage items to appropriate facilities
For each type of garage waste, seek the certified and controlled facility to treat or recycle in a safe way both for people and environment.
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#7 Join forces with other actors
Either to reach critical quantity and facilitate negotiation, or to benefit from larger NGOs or actors able to assess and validate technical recycling methodologies or facilities, collaborate with other actors present in the region.
To consider
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Potential co-benefits
- Reduced health risks for workers and the community.
- Cleaner and healthier community environment.
- Reduced need for raw materials.
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Success conditions
- Buy-in from country management teams: they play a key role in encouraging fleet managers to change the way their operation deals with vehicle waste.
- Financial resources to dispose of fleet waste sustainably.
- Collaboration across departments: Fleet, sustainability, and procurement staff must work together to improve waste management practices of workshops.
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Prerequisites & specificities
- Compliance with local and national regulations
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Potential risks
- Developing countries may lack the necessary infrastructure and technology for efficient and safe recycling of automotive waste.
- Lack of proper facilities and training can lead to improper handling of hazardous materials, causing environmental contamination and health risks.
- Labour exploitation: The informal recycling sector, often prevalent in developing countries, may exploit workers, including children, paying them low wages and exposing them to dangerous conditions.
Tools and good practices
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ICRC, Workshop waste management procedures
These recommendations have been used to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be implemented in the field by ICRC staff. The results can also be of use for other humanitarian organizations with similar operating contexts as of ICRC.
Explore here -
ICRC, Fleet Waste Providers Assessment
The file contains guidance on how to assess fleet waste providers. It provides the critical questions that need to be asked during a QSE assessment. It is essential to proceed to service providers assessments.
Explore here -
Directory of metal-recycling facilities in the world
List of worldwide places where metallic part such as shoes, pads and plates can be recycled. Other facility can also exist locally and not be part of this list.
Explore here -
Standard Operating Procedures to recycle used lead-acid batteries
The Sustainable Recycling Industries Project developed Standard Operating Procedures for the Ghanaian government to lead-battery recycling and keep people and the environment safe.
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WREC, Waste management facilities mapping
The WREC is continuously mapping waste management facilities and reference them in a go-to map. Contribute to this mapping by sharing companies identified and assessed. Use filter such as ‘batteries, vehicles spare parts, tyres, etc’ in order to more easily identify referenced companies. Bear in mind that running your systematic assessment of the recycling service provider is instrumental.
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ICRC, E-learning course
ICRC has developed and made available an e-learning course on sustainable fleet with the support of Fleet Forum, to support all staff understand what they can do to contribute limiting environmental impact and help the organisation reaching its carbon reduction targets. It includes three different sub-modules targeting different types of roles in the organisation: fleet managers, drivers, passengers.
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To go further
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ICRC, Garage waste study
The study assessed the environmental impact of ICRC garage waste, identified waste management practices with the highest environmental impact and proposed recommendations and mitigation actions.
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UNEP, Used vehicles and the environment, 2020
A landmark, first-of-its-kind United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, looks at 146 countries that import used vehicles, and calls for action to regulate the trade through the adoption of a set of harmonised minimum quality standards. These would ensure used vehicles contribute to cleaner and safer fleets in recipient countries.
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Study on recycling used oil methodologies, 2020 (in French)
This paper studies how a specific process is an interesting way to generate fuel or lubricant from used oil. It was based on the context of Cameroun where 25 000 tons of used oil is disposed of in uncontrolled ways every year.
Explore here
Acknowledgment
This factsheet was prepared with the support from the Fleet Forum. Last updated 1st July 2024.
Share your success stories, suggestions, and comments with us! contact@climateactionaccelerator.org
Sources
(1) European Union Commission, ‘Waste Oil’, Energy, climate change, environment, 2022. Available here.
(2) World Economic Forum, ‘This Singapore Plant is Recycling Lithium Batteries Using Fruit Peel’, Weforum, 2023. Available here.
(3) A. Nissar, M. Hanief, F. Q. Mir, ‘Critical retrospection and evaluation of waste engine oil recycling methods’, Springer Link, 2023. Available here.
(4) Plateforme Solutions Climat, ‘La filtration sans la vidange : NITIFILTER’, Le Hub des Solutions Climat, 2015. Available here.
(5) Plateforme Solutions Climat, ‘La filtration sans la vidange : NITIFILTER’, Le Hub des Solutions Climat, 2015. Available here.
(6) ENF, ‘Metal Recycling Plants Directory’, ENF Metal. Available here.
(7) UNEP, ‘Batteries (ULAB) – Waste Lead Acid Batteries (WLAB)’, UN Environment Programme, 2023. Available here.
(8) European Union Commission, ‘Waste Oil’, Energy, climate change, environment, 2022. Available here.
(9) European Commission, ‘A unique Lead Acid Battery (LAB) recycling technology to reduce CO2 emissions by 89%, reduce waste by 81%, and transform the battery recycling industry’, Europa, 2022. Available here.
(10) World Economic Forum, ‘This Singapore Plant is Recycling Lithium Batteries Using Fruit Peel’, Weforum, 2023. Available here.
(11) A. M. Moasas, M. N. Amin, K. Khan, W. Ahmad, M. N. A. Al-Hashem, A. F. Deifalla, A. Ahmad, ‘A worldwide development in the accumulation of waste tires and its utilisation in concrete as a sustainable construction material: a review’, ScienceDirect, 2022. Available here.
(12) L. Merlin, N. M. Ferdinand, N. M. Raoul, T. R. Bertrand, K. D. Armand, ‘Validation d’une méthode de valorisation matière et énergie des huiles de vidange’, Environnement, Ingénierie & Développement, p. 83, 2020.
Featured
Fleet
Maintain and keep vehicles longer
Hazardous waste
Waste management principles
Waste from electrical and electronic equipment
Credits
Cover photo: Cottonbro Studio/Pexels