HAMMONTON, N.J. T. Masters Collision & Service Center in Hammonton, N.J., an Auto Value Certified Service Center customer of Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance member South Jersey Auto Supply, has been designated as the first certified green auto body repair facility in the state.
T. Masters was recently awarded “green” certification by the New Jersey Green Automotive Repair Program (NJGARP) for implementing eco-friendly business practices that will help keep New Jersey clean and conserve precious resources.
The NJGARP is a partnership between the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR), the New Jersey Gasoline C-Store Automotive Association (NJGCA) and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) of New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Their goal is to promote environmentally-friendly practices by the state’s automotive repair facilities in an effort to minimize their impact on the environment.
The NJGARP committee developed an 88-point checklist of “green” initiatives for auto repair facilities. The checklist includes: pollution prevention and resource conservation measures; waste fluids management, energy and water conservation efforts; waste water reduction; and protection of customers and workers at the facility. Each “green” initiative is assigned a point value and repair shops must achieve a minimum of 300 points (or 450 if the facility includes an auto body shop) to qualify for and maintain “green” certification by NJGARP.
Some of the “green” practices employed by T. Masters include a 50K solar system to generate electrical savings, a concrete storage area instead of asphalt for longevity, a waste oil fired water boiler for shop heat, six layers of insulation in the shop to hold heat, compactors to recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, metal and aluminum, condensers for the purpose of recycling and a designated flatbed truck just for the purpose of recycling. T. Masters also strips the recycled parts from all abandoned/totaled vehicles for recycling as well.
“We are excited to be the first auto body repair facility in the State of New Jersey to be recognized as a ‘green’ repair facility,” said Anna Marie Carpo, owner of T. Masters. “This designation re-affirms our commitment to practicing ‘green’ techniques and our goal to reduce our impact on the environment.”
Michael Coppola, president of NJGARP, and Alex Yankaskas, vice president, presented the award to Rick and Anni Carpo during the annual AASP meeting on Oct. 28.