Ladies of the Automotive Recyclers Association (LARA) Convening Regular Meetings
LARA, a collection of female automotive recyclers, employees and industry vendors, will begin meeting on a monthly basis in addition to gathering in-person during the ARA Annual Convention. LARA is open to all ladies of the industry – whether recycler, supplier, consultant and others – and works to support women in the industry through networking, education and information.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 5th on the MyARA online platform which is accessible through the ARA homepage. Monthly meetings will include a profiled speaker from within the industry, a discussion topic, and open question/comment period. Please invite your network of women in the industry to join in on the discussions.
The LARA meeting in Dallas will take place on Saturday, November 13th at 7:00am.
FTC Vote on Repair Restrictions
ARA issued a press release on July 22 applauding a vote by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to increase enforcement against repair restrictions. The unanimous vote (5-0) on a policy statement that prioritizes investigations into unlawful repair restrictions was taken during an open Commission meeting during which ARA and others in the automotive replacement parts industry participated.
“The ARA has been in recent communication with the FTC about the unfair and deceptive campaigns undertaken by auto manufacturers to push ROE – Recycled Original Equipment® parts out of the market,” said ARA President, Scott Robertson, in the press release. “This FTC decision, coming on the heels of President Biden’s Executive Order which called on the FTC to institute rules to curb anti-competitive restrictions that limit consumers’ repair choices, sends a strong message to the manufacturers that they are not the only game in town.”
“The misinformation campaigns and barriers to consumer choice that automotive recyclers have fought for years are finally getting recognized at the highest levels of our federal government,” added ARA Executive Director, Sandy Blalock. “We are encouraged by these positive steps forward to restoring consumer choice in how their vehicle is repaired.”
The FTC policy statement specifically focuses on targeting enforcement of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and other repair restrictions that violate antitrust laws or use deceptive practices.
EPA Targets Clean Air Act Violations at Metal Recyclers
ARA is closely monitoring activities related to a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforcement alert targeted at metal recycling facilities operating auto and scrap metal shredders. The EPA published the July 2021 enforcement alert because the agency identified Clean Air Act violations by several metal recyclers operating shredders. State agencies and the
EPA found that several metal recycling facilities had excess volatile organic
compound (VOC) emissions coming from the operation of their shredders. As a result, the EPA and state agencies required metal recyclers in violation of the Clean Air Act to pay substantial fines and install capture and add-on pollution controls.
As part of the EPA’s enforcement alert, the EPA recommended that owners and operators of shredders take the following steps to minimize VOC emissions and achieve compliance with the Clean Air Act:
(1) Follow best pollution prevention practices by depolluting scrap materials before they enter the shredder;
(2) Estimate an hourly annual VOC emission, using appropriate available test data from similar facilities. If estimated total annual or hourly VOC emissions are below, but near the RACT or NSR/PSD thresholds for your area, consult with EPA or the state environmental agency and consider conducting a performance test to measure actual VOC emissions and to develop a facility-specific emission factor;
(3) If estimated emissions are over the RACT or NSR/PSD thresholds, contact EPA or the state environmental agency to discuss a path forward. In some cases, the installation of capture and add-on pollution controls may be required.
Automotive recyclers typically evacuate fluids as part of a depollution process prior to dismantling and crushing. The ARA Certified Automotive Recyclers (CAR) Program and affiliated certification programs require members to maintain depollution, fluid evacuation and disposal best-management practices as part of their general business and environmental standards. ARA is monitoring the impact that this increased scrutiny may have for the industry.
Renew or Apply for ARA’s Certification Program Now!
If you are participating in the Certified Automotive Recyclers (CAR) Program or want to be – this is a great time to get your audit completed. This year is a self-audit year so why not get it finished sooner rather than later? All audits are now computerized. Please email Sue Schauls at sue.schauls@gmail.com to order and receive your record. New important HVVD protocols are in place.
Get a jump on your competition by certifying first in your area. It is a distinguisher between you and other auto recyclers.
Guidance information is available at https://aracertification.com/ and https://arauniversity.org/ or by emailing Sue Schauls.
WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
114 Auto Salvage
All Import Auto Parts
ALLMAG Auto Parts
Auto Guys Services, Inc.
Budget Auto Parts
Carvio, Inc.
Lamb Fuels, Inc.
Multimetco, Inc.
Spivey’s Auto Salvage, Inc.
Wally’s Auto, Inc.
Wilbert’s U-Pull It of Bath
Wilbert’s U-Pull It of Buffalo, Inc.
Winkler Brothers Towing & Recovery, LLC dba Bud’s Wrecking
