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Stopping toxic shop syndrome

An auto repair shop goes green.

Ric Kellen, owner of Mellow Motors.

Photo: Frank Gaglione

When Ric Kellen, owner of Mellow Motors in Greenbrae, California—in eco-conscious Marin County—decided to get his shop certified “green” by the Bay Area Green Business Program, he didn’t have to change much. He’d already decided recycling made better business sense than paying to have piles of trash hauled away. Now, in addition to recycling as much as possible (including scrap steel), his staffers use recycled paper, green hand cleaner, a low-energy copy machine and energy-efficient bulbs.

Auto repair has long been seen as a grimy business, but more shops are greening up their greasy work. Some, like Mellow Motors, are getting certified—through regional programs that require minimizing environmental impact—to help change the nature of car repair from the tires up. “This business is by nature somewhat toxic,” Kellen admits. “But within your industry you do what you can.”

For Kellen, that means reducing waste, buying in bulk and safely disposing what can’t be recycled. Sometimes it means telling customers when certain services aren’t necessary. “Lots of ­places say to change your oil every 3,000 miles, but really, we only need it changed every 5,000 miles,” he says. “The lube places don’t want to hear that.” In the short term, this might mean less business, but Kellen says it’s necessary to look at the big picture. “We’re here to make money—but not at the expense of everyone.” And Kellen dreams greener. “I’ve talked to people about going solar,” he says.

All in all, Mellow Motors is far from being your typical toxic auto shop. One of Kellen’s technicians moonlights as a beekeeper, harvesting honey behind the garage and selling it at the shop. You won’t find that at your neighbourhood “fast lube.” “I think the green business thing is really a state of mind,” he contends. “I get pissed off when I see people throwing stuff away.”—josey duncan