Greening Your Charity Car Wash

The charity carwash is a great way for any school, club, or non-profit to raise money. It’s fun and you’ll usually get a good turnout. One thing that’s often overlooked is the environmental impact of a charity carwash on our water supply. Let’s stop and think about this for a moment. You’ll be washing dozens of cars in a small area over the course of a few hours. All the pollutants you’ve just scrubbed off your patrons cars, including brake dust, oils, exhaust fumes, and heavy detergents, has now entered into the environment completely untreated. Not only is this illegal (see the EPA’s requirements), but it also going to have a serious impact on local waterways.

There are a few preventative measures your group can take before you hold one of these events. One of the best ways is to team up with a local carwash. Their facilities will use less water, be faster, and most importantly, treat any water before it’s released back into the environment. You’ll safely be able to comply with EPA regulations, while also holding a more efficient fundraiser.

Another alternative is to hold a charity waterless car wash. These products will allow your group to wash cars without using soapy suds and hoses. What’s nice about waterless car wash products is that they give you greater flexibility of where you’d like to hold your carwash. Since there is no need for a water-hookup, you’ll be able to pick and ideal location.

A great online resource for more information is the Puget Sound Car Wash Association. They help local charities coordinate an eco-friendly car wash. I’d definitely recommend checking it out for more ideas. Good luck!