Olympic College Automotive Technology earned Kitsap County’s five stars EnviroStars award for its environmentally progressive automotive repair education program.

Automotive Technology has reduced its hazardous waste disposal to almost zero, giving the shop a healthier environment and saving money. The program is helping to protect the environment by training future technicians to be conscientious industry leaders.

Instead of disposing or recycling waste oil, Olympic College Automotive Technology burns it in a waste oil heater, which is the shop’s heat source. Waste oil heaters are a great way to simultaneously save on disposal costs and conserve energy. The program has also reduced solvent use by moving to water-based cleaning methods for cleaning parts and brakes.

To prevent potentially hazardous materials and situations form entering the facility, faculty and students pre-screen all jobs. In addition to waste reduction and pollution prevention, the program recycles many materials – antifreeze, freon refrigerants (from air conditioning systems), fluorescent tubes, and scrap metal. This means minimal waste goes to the landfill.