Students in the autobody repair and refinishing program at Renton Technical College (RTC) used to throw out used paint thinner. That was before EnviroStars came in.

The King County environmental-certification program helped RTC set up a paint-thinner recycler. By using the machine, the autobody students can reuse every four of five gallons of paint thinner. RTC is also saving hundreds of dollars in recycling fees.

Autobody repair and refinishing is just one of seven RTC programs to earn EnviroStars certification. That makes the Renton school the first college in the state to have multiple trade training programs earn the certification. More than 20 Renton businesses earned EnviroStars certification. These businesses include dentists, dry cleaners, landscapers and veterinarians.

Four RTC automotive programs earned the certification. The other programs are in the fields of dental assisting and appliance and refrigeration technology.

Two of those programs — the appliance and refrigeration technology program and Ford ASSET, an automotive technician training program sponsored by Ford — received the highest, five-star rating. The other programs received four stars. Five stars means the programs are sharing their knowledge with the community.

“(RTC) has really gone above and beyond any college,” said Laurel Tomchick, EnviroStars program manager.

Part of King County’s hazardous waste management program, EnviroStars provides environmental certification for residents and small businesses. That means it helps these people reduce their hazardous waste and green their practices.

For RTC’s automobile certified programs, that greening means not only using the paint-thinner recycler, but recycling oils and antifreeze, using less caustic chemicals, properly cleaning up spills and teaching others those green lessons.

Ford ASSEST was the first RTC program to earn EnviroStars certification. That was about four years ago.

“The concern we have in my department and the automotive industry is always about safety and hazardous waste and materials and state regulations,” said Karen Johnson, RTC’s dean of trade and industry programs.

She hopes to get other RTC programs involved with EnviroStars.

“We’re not through with our process,” she said. “We’d like to invite other programs on campus to consider EnviroStars because it’s been such a helper and support to us and environmental issues.”

EnviroStars started on Earth Day 1995, and is operating in five Puget Sound counties, with plans to expand the program statewide.

Ultimately, Tomchick says EnviroStars aims to create better business practices and create green companies for consumers.

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