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YOUR SHOP
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Saving on antifreeze
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Antifreeze recycling can lower the cost of this “green gold” chemical. Photo by Scott Nesbitt |
The time is fast approaching to winterize your golf course maintenance equipment. It may also be time to consider recycling your antifreeze to avoid the price shock of buying “green gold” to keep your engine blocks from cracking in cold weather.
You may also simplify your environmental compliance and waste disposal hassles.
Prices for “virgin” antifreeze are high because the standard ethylene and propylene glycol types are petroleum-based, just like your gasoline and diesel fuel. Organic acid technology (OAT) antifreeze like General Motors’ Dex-Cool is also pricey because worldwide demand for engine-powered machines continues to grow.
Antifreeze recycling is based on the concept that water and the basic glycol or OAT chemicals don’t wear out. But supplemental additive chemicals do deplete over time as they bind up with harmful metals, foam-producing oxygen and other gases that appear as the coolant cycles through the engine.
Various recycling systems pull the harmful agents out of old engine coolant through filtration, distillation, reverse osmosis and ion exchange, or a combination of those methods. Once the good stuff is reclaimed, new protective chemicals are added to the mixture, and it goes back into the engine.
The machinery that is necessary for recycling antifreeze may be located in a central factory that buys your used antifreeze and sells fresh recycled product in return. You can buy recycling equipment that you add to your shop equipment. Or you can use a mobile service that does the work at your location.
Here’s a tip: If the mobile recycler doesn’t carry distilled or de-ionized water on his truck, turn him away. He’s not following sound chemical practices or conforming to good industry practices. Tap water has too much oxygen, calcium, magnesium and other chemicals to work properly in modern cooling systems. Some recyclers will certify their product meets some of the various industry-recognized standards and warranty their product.
You can learn more about recycling antifreeze at a state of California Web site, www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/. Use the “search” box on the main site and type in “antifreeze” to download an excellent four-page free booklet on the recycling process and costs.
Need new equipment but skeptical it’ll be approved in next year’s budget? Consider the technique of shared ownership with other superintendents in your area. Form a group of three or four superintendents to agree on the initial investment, terms of operation and the withdrawal of partners. Consult a CPA and a lawyer during these steps. With the proceeds of the partners’ initial investments, purchase equipment and agree on an hourly rate at which to charge the partners’ golf courses for usage. In periods of nonuse, the equipment could be leased to nonpartner golf courses for a fee. Maintenance, transportation and storage costs would be paid to the golf course providing those services. At year-end, excess cash could be distributed to partners or retained for future equipment purchases. |
