Eighty-three small businesses in Minnesota have reduced VOCs by 37 tons a year, the equivalent of 37,000 cans of spray paint a year.
Finding green(er) auto body repair
Auto body repair shops can reduce VOC emissions by half or more by switching to water-based paints. Consumers can decide to look for auto body shops that have made the switch.
Going green one paint job at a time
Wayne’s Auto Body (Hastings) took a big step toward being more environmentally friendly, with big changes in its operations in order to reduce the amount of VOCs it produces.
Grant helps Valley Craft reduce air emissions
Valley Craft in Lake City received a $100,000 VOC-reduction grant to convert its powder-coating paint system. The company expects to cut VOCs by more than 3 tons per year.
Air stories: Oscar Auto Body reduces VOCs
Oscar Auto Body (Minneapolis) used an MPCA grant reduce the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from its painting operation.
State helps small businesses clean up the air
Last year the Legislature provided funding to help small businesses reduce air emissions called Volatile Organic Compounds. So far, 12 small businesses in Minnesota have received over $400,000 in grants to reduce VOCs.
MPCA grants reduce dangerous chemicals in Redwood area
Volatile organic compounds are used for a variety of tasks from cleaning parts to painting. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently provided grants to three auto shops for alternative products and equipment.
- Heppner's Auto Body (Inver Grove Heights): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Heppner's Auto Body - Midway (St. Paul): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Heppner's Auto Body - 7th Street (St. Paul): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Heppner's Auto Body (Woodbury): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Maaco (Richfield): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Maplewood Collision Center (Maplewood): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Master Collision Group (Bloomington): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- MCP Collision Center (Annandale): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Mountain Power Hydraulics (Mountain Lake): Install industrial parts washer, eliminating Xylol.
- Pro Auto Collision & Frame (Ortonville): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College (St. Cloud): Install the Virtual Paint system, which teaches the next generation of painters about efficiency and techniques that use less paint and reduce emissions.
- Windy's Collision Center (St. Paul): Converting to waterborne paint system.
- Crystal Lake Automotive (Lakeville and Burnsville): Converting to waterborne paint system.
