Much of your car is hazardous, at least when it becomes a waste product. Much of the responsibility for proper disposal has been taken on by the automotive industry and its suppliers. Still, every driver will face a dilemma sooner or later. How can I dispose of this stuff without harming the environment?

There’s a long list of car and truck “consumables” that must be considered hazardous in some way – antifreeze, automotive body filler, brake fluid, waxes and polishes, fuel system cleaners, degreasers, engine starter fluid, filters (oil, gas, air), gasoline and diesel fuel, gear oil, grease, lead-acid batteries, motor oil, power steering fluid, transmission fluid and window-washer fluid.

Environmental responsibility extends beyond simply reducing pollution and improving fuel efficiency. Responsible owners take the steps necessary to ensure the automotive waste generated by their vehicles is handled, stored and disposed of properly. For example, the ethylene glycol variety of antifreeze is deadly to pets that ingest it. More than 10,000 dogs and cats die each year from antifreeze poisoning after lapping up just a little bit of the sweet tasting poison. You can avoid this potential hazard by making sure your coolant system contains propylene glycol antifreeze. While it’s still hazardous, it’s less lethal to pets and less of a threat to the environment. If your coolant system is leaking, fix it and specify antifreeze with propylene glycol as the active ingredient.

According to the EPA, motor oil is the leading source of small-quantity hazardous waste. The federal agency estimates that 180 million gallons of spent motor oil are disposed of improperly each year. That’s a shame because groundwater contaminated by just one quart of oil can compromise 250,000 gallons of drinking water. Improper disposal of motor oil becomes even more shameful when you realize that, by law, retailers that sell motor oil must accept used motor oil from customers, up to the amount that was initially purchased. So, if you've recently changed your car's oil, take the used oil back to the place of purchase. If you have your oil changed for you, make certain the service station recycles it. When recycled, two gallons of motor oil can produce enough electricity to power a home for one day or power a television for 180 hours straight.

Car batteries contain lead, acid and plastic and are dangerous to both you and the environment if disposed of incorrectly. Most states now require retailers to take in your old battery for disposal when you purchase a new one. They generally charge a modest disposal fee, but that shouldn’t stop you from making sure you turn in your old battery rather than chucking it in the trash, which will guarantee contamination of the landfill. If you have old batteries sitting in the garage, you can get rid of them responsibly in a number of ways. The American Automobile Association (AAA) runs a program called the Great Battery Roundup, which is held annually to celebrate Earth Day (April 22). Contact your local AAA office for details. Most municipalities maintain special waste drop-off sites and/or special events for the collection of hazardous wastes of all types. Call the local agency in charge of trash pickup or the company with whom your town or city contracts for trash collection.

Worn out tires are a real pain when you wind up with them. It seems that no one wants them. That’s why you frequently see old tires just tossed on the side of the road. Many people don’t realize that tire disposal practices are regulated by the government and provisions for their disposal are mandated. Of course, the easiest way to get rid of a damaged tire or a set of worn tires is to leave them with the tire retailer. They are obligated to take the old tires when you purchase new ones. Then the federal regs kick in and require the retailers to participate in a tire-recycling program. Some tire retailers will even take old tires off your hands as a business courtesy or charge a small handling fee. This is yet another case where local municipalities try to prevent improper disposal by declaring “used tire amnesty days” or accepting tires as special waste.

Today, most everyone knows there are ecological consequences to improper disposal of many items. Fortunately, there is an environmentally responsible way to dispose of just about anything. Your best source is usually local. Check out the local guidelines on how and where to dispose of hazardous waste (that which is capable of catching fire or being explosive, containing toxic or radioactive elements or having corrosive properties). Earth911.com makes it easy to find a recycler. Just type in the material and it will guide you from there. For general guidance on the proper disposal of stuff, bring up the EPA’s website devoted to solid waste recycling and disposal at www.epa.gov/osw.

So, when it comes to the hazardous stuff produced by your car or truck, don’t just chuck it, check out the right way to get rid of it and follow through. The environment our kids will inherit depends on you!