Auto and Scrap Recycling

Auto and scrap recycling businesses are greening up their operations. It wasn't so long ago that junkyards and salvage dealers burned, buried, or dumped scrap and garbage. These bad practices often led to soil and groundwater contamination. Few auto and scrap dealers followed environmentally sound dismantling and storage practices.

But times have changed. Today, with support from industry associations, many businesses collect and recycle fluids, batteries, and toxic materials like mercury switches during the dismantling process. Does your facility measure up? View good and bad practices to find out.

Pollution prevention and waste reduction efforts benefit individuals, businesses, and communities. These benefits include:

• Protecting human health
• Preventing contamination of Wisconsin's water, land, and wildlife resources
• Improving community relations
• Safeguarding property value
• Avoidance of fines

Obtaining a License

Motor vehicle auto and scrap dealers must obtain a license from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) [exit DNR] The license allows a business to buy and resell vehicles for wrecking, processing, scrapping, recycling or dismantling.

Regulations

Licensed Wisconsin auto and scrap dealers must also register with the following programs:

1. Refrigerant Recovery Program - Any business that dismantles or salvages entire units of refrigeration equipment must register annually with the DNR. An informational brochure and link to Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR488 can be viewed on the Air Management Refrigerant Program Web page.
2. Storm Water Program - Storm water discharge permits are required for auto recyclers and scrap and waste recyclers. Auto and Scrap Recycling Associations have worked proactively with their members and the DNR to develop Cooperative Compliance Programs to establish industry-wide approaches to reducing or eliminating storm water contamination. These programs provide group training, foster information sharing, and promote best management practices.
3. Hazardous Air Pollution Requirements for Sweat Furnaces - All sweat furnaces (furnaces designed to separate aluminum from steel) have requirements under federal and state Maximum Achievable Control Technology standards (MACT). MACT standards are established to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from specific industrial categories. There is no size cutoff for these regulations; even the smallest sweat furnace must comply with these rules. The rules are briefly summarized below.

• The most practical way to meet the MACT standard is for a sweat furnace to install an afterburner which has an operating temperature of 1600°F or greater. The afterburner must be designed to have a residence time at this temperature of at least 0.8 seconds. At all times when aluminum is being reclaimed, the afterburner must be operated at this temperature.
• During furnace operation the temperature has be recorded with 15 minute and 3 hour block averages. Records of these temperatures must be kept on site for inspection by either the DNR or US Environmental Protection Agency.
• All sweat furnace owners or operators must file an initial notification with the Department of Natural Resources. The notification must contain the information on the Initial Notification Form. You can provide the information in a letter or by printing and completing the form.

The notification and any questions can be addressed to:

Daniel Rosenthal
Wisconsin DNR - Air Management Bureau
101 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone (608) 266-3450
E-mail: Daniel.Rosenthal@wisconsin.gov

For more information contact Dan at the address above or look at the Regulations for Sweat Furnaces at one of the following Web pages:

• English version [PDF exit DNR]
• Spanish version [PDF exit DNR]

4. Other Regulations - Regulations change and evolve over time. To keep abreast of any new or revised regulations complete the Permit Primer. For further assistance, contact Mark Harings.

Permit Help

The Permit Primer provides a step-by-step, question-and-answer tour of the DNR's regulatory programs. By completing the on-line primer tour you can:

• Determine which environmental requirements apply to you.
• Decide what permits you need and how to get them.
• Find ways to save money and resources through pollution prevention, waste minimization, and resource protection.

Resources to Help You

• Environmental Compliance for Automotive Recyclers (ECAR Center) [exit DNR] - The ECAR Tour Fact Sheets [exit DNR] allow auto and scrap recyclers to obtain information on the environmental requirements that apply to more than 20 activities associated with auto recycling,
• Small Business Clean Air Assistance Program [exit DNR] - A free, confidential, non-regulatory resource helping businesses to understand and comply with state and federal air pollution regulations. For information, contact Renee Lesjak Bashel, clean air specialist, at 608-264-6153, or Tom Coogan, clean air specialist, at 608-267-9214.
• Solid & Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC) [exit DNR] - The Center provides technical assistance to businesses and communities on emissions reduction, pollution prevention, recycling, and solid waste management. This free, non-regulatory service emphasizes waste reduction and cost reduction strategies. For information call 920-465-2327 in Green Bay or 608-262-0385 in Madison.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Air Management Program
• Waste Management Program

Industry Associations

• Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) [exit DNR]
• Concerned Auto Recyclers (CARS) [exit DNR]
• Institute for Scrap Recyclers [exit DNR]

Questions? Contact ...

Auto and Scrap Recycling Sector Specialist
Mark Harings
Email: Mark.Harings@wisconsin.gov
Phone: 715-831-3263