The Environmental Achievement Award

“Colorado Department of Health and Education Awards Markley Motors”

Voluntary Efforts of Local Dealership to Protect Environment Officially Recognized

September 16, 2009, Fort Collins, CO – Markley Motors of Fort Collins was recently granted the Bronze Environmental Achievement Award by the Office of Environmental Integration and Sustainability, a division of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Markley Motors is the only auto dealership in this year’s statewide recipient list. The annual awards recognize the voluntary and significant environmental achievements of Colorado businesses, organizations and state and local government agencies. The October awards ceremony in Denver will be attended by Governor Bill Ritter.

Among the notable efforts made by Markley Motors to reduce their impact on the environment and reduce their contributions to landfill waste are tire, oil and antifreeze recycling. Waste tires are often stockpiled at dealerships where they collect rainwater and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other diseases. Markley Motors has purchased a machine which compresses and staples each tire together so that the volume is reduced by approximately 80%. This also reduces the disease and fire potential dramatically. The tires are subsequently shipped to a recycling center in Sedalia, Colorado where they are transformed into shreds to be used in the tire-derived-fuel industry and in many other civil engineering applications, such as septic system drain fields, gas venting systems, sound barriers in freeway systems, etc.

Additionally, Markley Motors has purchased and successfully installed a water-borne basecoat paint system for their automotive collision repair and painting operation. This effectively reduces, if not eliminates, the use of high VOC solvents that contribute to the production of greenhouse gases and the destruction of the ozone. The system has greatly minimized the amount of solvent-borne hazardous waste generated and, most importantly, Markley Motors employees are no longer exposed to high levels of hazardous vapor emitted in paint spraying operations. Use of the system has reduced their overall VOC output by approximately 60%.

Another water-based system is in the service department where Markley Motors has purchased and installed water-based parts washers which emit no VOCs and replace the old solvent-based washers. No hazardous waste is generated with this system and employees are further protected.

“This award is just icing on the cake,” stated Terry Brunk, Fixed Operations Manager at Markley Motors, “We have been making strides in reducing our environmental impact for some time, just because it is the right thing to do. However, we are also proud to be officially recognized as an organization that is committed to exceeding expectations in sales and service, while respecting the safety and environment of our employees and the citizens of Northern Colorado.”

Though the service department and body shop are the stars of the dealership in this award, there is an overriding policy of environmental consciousness across department lines. The sales and administrative arms of Markley Motors continue to recycle and shred in every way possible: paper, aluminum, cardboard, etc. Further efforts include low energy lighting in the lot areas of the dealership to reduce emissions and ozone impact. Finally, the company has an Environmental Policy on their books which is not simply a statement but is enacted and implemented to the full extent within the dealership.

WAY TO GO!

Written and posted by Tim Northburg - Sales / Internet Manager