Car Wash Association

You are a responsible person and you care for the environment. You recycle your rubbish, probably have a bag for life and the chances are that you have worked hard to reduce your carbon footprint?

When it comes to washing your car, how can you get the best wash whilst not harming the environment?

The Car Wash Association is launching the WashMark to help you make the right decision the next time you wash your car.

The CWA WashMark is awarded to car washes that meet the CWA's Code of Practice which is based upon current UK legislation regarding vehicle washing.

Your local car wash service might offer you a hand car wash, rollover, jet wash or a combination of washing solutions but from January 2012, if they don’t have the WashMark, you can’t be sure that they are a safe place to wash your car.

When we say safe, what do we mean?

Is it safe for you and your car?
●Is it a well-maintained site with fully-trained and competent staff ?
●Is it a well-identified business with someone clearly in charge?
●Are they insured?
●Do they use biodegradable chemicals that will not damage your paintwork or tyres?
●Are their staff paid the minimum wage?
●Do they comply with current Health and Safety regulations?

Is it safe for the environment?
●Is the washing taking place on a purpose-built non-porous concrete pad ?
●Is the contaminated water removed or drained from the washing site in a safe and responsible manner, i.e. to a foul drain?
●Are they using either separation tanks or interceptors?

The CWA WashMark is there to check all this and help you find the safest place to wash your car.

For several years now the compliant vehicle washing industry in the UK has been confronted by unregulated hand car wash operators that often set up without regard for the law, the consumer or the environment.

With the introduction of the WashMark consumers can now be sure that the wash they are using is safe, for their car and safe for the environment..

In 2012 the CWA will launch a campaign to help the consumer understand the importance of the WashMark. If your site doesn’t carry the WashMark,customers may well pass you by for a site that does.

The WashMark is awarded to members of the Car Wash Association that have completed the site accreditation form and who fully comply with all current UK legislation.

Already a CWA member?

Please complete the accreditation form in the TAKE ACTION section and e-mail it back to info@carwashassociation.co.uk

Not a CWA member yet?

Fill in the membership form and accreditation sheets in that apply in TAKE ACTION and email them back to info@carwashassociation.co.uk

The meeting is intended for companies that offer responsible vehicle washing and would like to know more about the current regulations that surround vehicle washing in the UK and the WashMark, the industry's new consumer mark of quality.

If you are a responsible car wash company, why not book your place at the meeting and see how the Car Wash Association could benefit your company.

The meeting will take place at:
South Mimms/Potters Bar Premier Inn and Touchbase meeting rooms
Swanland Road
South Mimms
Potters Bar
Hertfordshire EN6 3NH

The meeting will take place from 10.30am – 3pm

Please email the association at info@carwashassociation.co.uk if you would like to attend or if you would like any further information.

Car Wash Association campaigns to drive up industry practice

The Car Wash Association (CWA) has launched a national campaign to raise public awareness of the risks people face using illicit car wash operations, and to call on officials to act to improve standards.

According to industry figures, there has been a huge growth in hand car wash operations in England and Wales: from almost none to 16,000 in the ten years to 2008. Of these, CWA believes that around 80 percent are failing to comply with industry guidelines and regulations.

“CWA estimates that each year, rogue car wash sites are illegally discharging an incredible 2.7 billion litres of trade effluent containing chemicals down rainwater drains rather than the correct foulwater drains. This is the equivalent to the contents of more than 77,000 road fuel-tankers. Most of this is being done without the legally required consent or trade effluent agreements, and is therefore likely to be causing contamination and pollution,” explained CWA spokesman Michael Harris.

In addition to the huge potential environmental impact of such sites, another problem relates to the risks to members of the public using car washing facilities that may be in breach of insurance and health and safety regulations. The CWA is also concerned by employment practices of site staff and their health and safety, as well as local authority planning regulations.

CWA is committed to raising industry standards and public awareness of the problems its members face. Working with those directly involved in the industry, the campaign is aimed at consumers using car washing facilities, and is urging them to consider the implications of using such sites – environmental and otherwise. It is also targeting the officials involved, including MPs, central government departments and local authorities, as well as other relevant stakeholders.

“Most people probably choose their car washing service for convenience or cost reasons, but are unaware of the problems within the industry,” commented Harris.
“Aside from the very clear environmental issues, we have observed that a significant number of these operations are not abiding by the correct employment and business regulations – including that of public liability insurance, which protects the consumer if something goes wrong.

“The CWA is aware that many of these sites are not conforming to planning regulations to operate car washing facilities at their locations. We have witnessed instances throughout the country where the law is being openly flouted with incorrect infrastructures and equipment being used – porous ground surfaces and rainwater drains, for example, along with non-biodegradable cleaning substances.”

Harris added: “If these operations are failing to comply in these areas, how can we also be sure that they are abiding by other business requirements with regards to rates and taxes, employment and insurance? Members of the public deserve to be aware of these issues, so they can make a more informed choice when it comes to cleaning their car. It’s time for urgent action to tackle these illegal activities.”

To find out more about the CWA campaign, or to request a fact sheet with more details, please contact info@carwashassociation.co.uk.

About the Car Wash Association
The safer way to clean your car
The Car Wash Association (www.carwashassociation.co.uk) was formed in 2007 to promote best practice within the car wash industry. Supported by leading car wash manufacturers, oil companies and retailers, the CWA sets high standards for quality and safety, and ensures that all its members act fairly and responsibly in the interest of the customer, the environment, and the future of the UK car washing industry in the UK.

Consumers are starting to report a fine layer of dust on their vehicles; it is unusual as it is a faint red colour. This is volcanic ash and is a harsh abrasive type of ash (unlike ash from a wood fire) that is made up of small rock, mineral, and volcanic glass fragments (these fragments are less than 0.1 inch (2 mm) in diameter)

Removing the ash without damaging the paintwork and glass is simple.

Use high pressure water from a jet wash, power washer or automated car wash to remove the ash before making any direct contact with the vehicle with either a brush or sponge.

Ash on the windscreen or rear window should be removed before using the wiper blades. Clean the wiper blades thoroughly to ensure that no ash is left, as this can scratch the glass when they are next used.

Using a bucket and sponge to clean a car before removing the ash will cause the ash to act like fine sandpaper between the sponge and paintwork and this is likely to cause damage to the paintwork.

Finally, consumers should ensure that they use regulated car wash sites that have the correct waste systems in place to make sure that the waste ends up in a foul sewer and not in the local watercourse. As a rule of thumb, if your local car wash is based in a car park or is not in a bay with an interceptor, it is likely to be unregulated.