Mechanic Brian Freker changes transmission fluid at Borst Automotive on South Swan Road. Borst saves the dirty fluid so it can be disposed of properly, one of the reasons the shop is certified as "green."

benjie sanders / arizona daily star

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More small auto repair shops in Tucson are finding ways to protect the environment through a public-private partnership between the state of Arizona and AAA Arizona.

When the Arizona Green Business Automotive Program began last year, AASTRO Transmission and Milex Auto Service Centers became the first shops in the state to earn certificates. Since then, four more Tucson shops have been certified and 13 more, including all of the Brake Max shops, are waiting to be inspected before receiving their certificates.

To become certified, auto shops have to change the way they do business to prevent pollution and conserve resources, said Yvette Lopez, a spokeswoman for AAA Arizona. The program requires auto shops to use low-hazard, low-pollution solvents or water-based cleaners; recycle waste fluids and oil; use energy-efficient lighting and air conditioning; use low-water-use fixtures, desert landscaping and dry-floor clean-up procedures; and reduce the use of paper.

Of course, all of this is voluntary, but it goes beyond the regular government regulations, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Web site.

"Becoming a green shop for us was not a hard thing to achieve, because we were doing many of these things already. We want to do the right thing. We want to keep the environment clean and safe because we do deal with toxins," said George Hammel, center manager for AASTRO Transmission.

AASTRO shops filled their floor drains with concrete so chemicals can't be washed out, which could lead to water pollution. Now, all spills are mopped up, Hammel said.

Even though the shops use computers for many tasks, they generate a lot of paperwork, he said. Now they try to shred that paper and recycle it.

Participating repair shops also have learned that the program saves them money.

Patrick Lopez, vice president and general manager of Arizona Car Care Centers, said a typical parts wash costs the company $1,000. But for its new Oro Valley location, it bought a $5,000 machine that doesn't use any solvents and uses less energy. It will pay for itself in savings, he said.

Mike Nicholson, general manager of Brake Max, said some requirements such as using energy-efficient lighting will help the environment and help the shops save on electric bills. Having exceptionally clean shops also leads to repeat business, he said.