Living Without Wheels

Many automotive maintenance products contain toxic chemicals that can seriously contaminate water. Motor oil, battery acid, gasoline, car waxes, engine cleaners, antifreeze, degreasers, radiator flushes, and rust preventatives need to be carefully disposed of to avoid water pollution.

Beyond the risk of chemical contamination, cars can pollute water indirectly through the metals and other pollutants that they emit. Hydrocarbon particles in auto emissions are washed from roadways and parking lots into waterbodies. They accumulate in bottom sediment and can adversely affect aquatic life in that region.

What You Can Do

• Reduce the amount that you drive by sharing rides, and use public transportation and bike or walk whenever possible. Plan your day and combine errands to reduce total mileage.
• Recycle used motor oil.
• Dispose of antifreeze at a House Hold Hazardous Waste Centre. Do not pour used antifreeze down drains, storm drains or onto driveways the ethylene glycol it contains is toxic.
• Keep your car well tuned. It burns fuel more efficiently this way.
• Drive a fuel-efficient car. The less gas you burn, the fewer pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere and eventually into our watercourses.