East Main Automotive
Local car repair shop goes green
By Margaret Locher Contributing Writer

(l to r) Kenny Giles and Rick Kelley, owners of East Main Automotive PHOTO/MARGARET LOCHER

Northborough - By now, everyone knows that replacing light bulbs and driving fuel-efficient cars are ways to reduce our impact on the environment. Now, the owners of the East Main Automotive have found ways go "green" doing car repairs and maintenance, as well.

East Main Automotive, located just off of Route 20 west in Northborough, has been in business for almost 18 years, performing routine maintenance such as oil changes as well as fixing major problems like severe electrical malfunctions, for example. Last year, co-owners Kenny Giles and Rick Kelley began looking for ways to reduce the shop's waste and recycle more of the materials they work with.

The biggest part of their effort to go green was a change to their trash removal system and schedule. Previously, all garbage went into the same dumpster and was taken away on the same day. Now, there are seven individual bins for things like paper and cardboard, tires, oil, and batteries. Each of those groups of items is removed on a diff erent day and by a different company. Unlike before, it doesn't all end up in the same place.

For example, oil and antifreeze can be recycled and resold by the company that collects those materials. Tires are also recycled and made into things like soft mats that go under children's playground equipment.

"We've decreased our regular trash by 75 percent," said Giles, referring to the materials that do not go into one of the specialized bins. "We're not perfect, but if all of the business bigger than ours started doing this, it would make a huge diff erence."

Recycling the cardboard packaging instead of just throwing it away makes a big diff erence.

"It's amazing that even the smallest car part comes in a cardboard box at least twice its size," Kelley said.

In addition to improving the way their trash is removed, the owners of East Main Automotive also made a few changes similar to what people are doing in their own homes. Heaters are now on timers to save energy, and they spent a couple thousand dollars to change the electrical connections to make lighting more efficient.

The five mechanics at the shop are also familiarizing themselves with hybrids.

"Hybrids are so new that mostly what they need is general maintenance, like brakes, tires and oil changes," Giles said. "We can do that."

East Main specializes in Mercedes and high-end cars, but the mechanics are knowledgeable about vehicles from any manufacturer.

"We love being busy," Giles said. "We've met so many people who have become friends, and our customers trust us."

Not only do most customers become regulars, but they often enjoy chatting with others while waiting for their car. Giles mentioned that some days, people get to talking in the waiting room (which is nicely decorated, with two big leather couches, lots of magazines and a TV) and end up staying even after the work on their car is complete.

East Main Automotive is located at 130 East Main St. in Northborough. The shop is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number is 508-393-1399. Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.