Your car and
the Environment

The Hydro-Blast parts washer uses a citrus-based cleaner and hot water to remove grease and oil from large parts. It works much like a dish-washer. This machine is used to extract R-134a and R-12 Freon from air conditioning systems.

WindSense from Minnesota Power Investing in Renewable Energy Foreign Affairs of Duluth subscribes to Minnesota Power's Wind Sense program. That means we pay a surcharge on our monthly electric bill that goes to electricity generated by wind power. The cost for wind generated power is still higher than that from coal or hydro, but we believe that clean, renewable energy, such as wind power, is essential for the survival of the planet.

The automobile has a detrimental effect on our natural environment in many ways other than just the consumption of gasoline and its resultant tailpipe emissions. It uses oil and oil filters, transmission fluids, brake fluid, anti-freeze/coolant, batteries, tires, and parts regularly wear out.

In addition there are rags and solvents used to clean greasy parts. And like any business, we use a lot of paper and have to properly dispose of used fluorescent light bulbs, as well as cardboard cartons and other shipping materials.

When you trust your vehicle repairs to Foreign Affairs, we do all that we can to see that these environmental hazards are recycled or disposed of properly. As responsible citizens it is our duty to help keep our air and water clean for everyone.

Much of our waste oil is consumed in an EPA-approved, environmentally-friendly furnace; the remaining sludge and used oil filters are collected by an oil recycling company. Our battery supplier removes the used batteries for recycling. Used anti-freeze is saved and picked up by a company that specializes in recycling anti-freeze. Worn out tires are collected by Green Man Technologies to be recycled. Used metal parts - cast iron, steel, and aluminum - are saved as scrap metal and hauled away to be recycled. Lead from wheel weights is collected as well. Mercury, such as from mercury switches, goes to a special site maintained by the state PCA. Used computer equipment must also be recycled to collect possible environmental contaminants.

Foreign Affairs no longer uses oil-based or kerosene-based solvents. Grease covered auto parts and our floors are now cleaned with environmentally-friendly citrus-based products. Oily rags are collected by the supplier who retrieves any oil or solvent in the rags before they are washed.

Air conditioning systems pose a particular problem. Freon (R-12) and R134a may not be vented to the atmosphere as they have been identified as contributing to depletion of the ozone layer. Instead they must be pumped out of a vehicle's A/C system with a special machine. Our technicians are licensed to operate the machines that retrieve the A/C coolant.

A poster in the entryway of Foreign Affairs lists Common Automotive Wastes and their proper disposal. A copy of that poster can be viewed at the Minnesota PCA web site.

"I have long believed that one of the best ways to cut down on waste is to keep maintaining your older car," says Jeff Hofslund, owner of Foreign Affairs. "A well maintained car will pollute less, last longer, and in the long run will cost the consumer less money than replacing cars every few years. Getting the most out of your car or truck is the best value overall."