Many car owners , see their cars as a means to an end, to get from A to B , but like so many others , my car is a part of me.  I knew that there was a problem but just hoped it would go away, stupid I know, it just got worse.                                                                                                     

All the 'mechanics'  came out from behind closed doors and offered this advice and that advice, until the supposed cost had escalated way beyond my means. I decided to save a bit more before frightening myself and visiting a garage.

Time came and I had no choice but to take my car to the garage and have her checked out.

"When was she last serviced?"

I admitted, that I was a mere woman, and servicing the car when she was running seemed a waste of money..anyway..I couldn't afford to be without her, my job , you know.

"Umm," scratch of the head and a sharp intake of breath, " might have helped though!"

With a costing in my head, and a lot of moaning, some kind hearted soul , offered to do the job for half the price.  He would get a manual!  "WHAT?"  and have it fixed in no time, all I would have to buy would be the parts and a few drinks when he was done.

"How long will it take?"

another sharp intake of breath and "Dunno"  I don't know about you , but I wasn't that impressed.

I wondered at this point how he was going to dispose of the waste parts, and he assured me that the dustman would take them if he hid them amongst other things. Not a good plan.

I returned to the garage, knowing that this really was the best way to go. Two days later and my car was returned to me in tip top condition.

I did enquire what they did with all the waste and the information that they gave , left me none other than impressed.

The environmental Agency Policy requires that the people producing the waste are responsible for the disposal of same, and in doing so, to be handled professionally and to prevent pollution.

OIL - the waste oil once it is treated, can be used as fuel in the manufacturing of steel and other high energy manufacturing plants.

PETROL & DIESEL - these are blended into derived fuels and can be used in cement kilns for the manufacture of cement.

BRAKE FLUID - can be  and is blended into a product used for stripping paint from jigs in industrial manufacturing.

OIL FILTERS - are processed to extract the oil and separate the metal: oil = fuel, metal = re-used.

BATTERIES - are processed to extract the lead which is a valuable source of a scarce commodity.

TYRES - are not allowed in landfill sites and cause a problem. Some are retreaded and reused, but most are shredded and used for childrens play areas, equestrian centres etc

DEGREASING SOLVENTS - are continuously recovered and recycled for re use.

I have been aware for a long time that car waste could not be thrown out anywhere, but, it wasn't until I had this information that, I realized that, so much of it is utilized elsewhere within our global community.