Truck washes use a variety of heavy-duty cleaning agents to remove dirt, grime, bugs, and other debris from the exterior surfaces of trucks and other large vehicles.

While these powerful formulas are important for maintaining vehicle appearance and value, many contain ingredients that can be harmful to the environment when used improperly or allowed to enter waterways untreated.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common active ingredients used in truck wash soaps and degreasers and discuss concerns around their environmental safety.

Surfactants

Surfactants are the main cleaning agents in most truck wash soaps. They work by breaking down grease, oil and other hydrophobic contaminants on truck surfaces so they can be rinsed away by water.

Common surfactants used include:

• Alkyl sulfates: Effective grease cutters derived from sulfuric acid and fatty alcohols. High soil penetration ability but some variants are toxic to aquatic life.
• Ethoxylated alcohols: Powerful surfactants made by reacting ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols. Effective cleaners but can be harmful to fish and other marine organisms so need proper disposal/treatment.
• Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES): Biodegradable anionic surfactant with high foam and grease removal properties. More eco-friendly option than some alternatives if disposed of properly.

Builder Chemicals

Builders are water conditioners that help surfactants lather and work more effectively in hard water environments. Common options include:

• Phosphates: Potent cleaning boosters but also serve as nutrients that can trigger algae blooms in waterways, so their use is restricted in some areas.
• Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA): Biodegradable alternative to phosphates used as a water softener, emulsifier, and sequestering agent.

Solvents

Some heavy-duty truck wash formulas also contain strong solvents like kerosene, diesel fuel or terpenes (citrus oils) to help dissolve thick deposits like tar and rubber marks left on truck exteriors from hauling certain materials. These can be toxic if allowed to enter groundwater but are very effective when used properly. Safer options include d-limonene solvent made from orange peels.

Preservatives

To prolong shelf life, many liquid truck wash products contain biocides such as formaldehyde, methylchloroisothiazolinone and bronopol which prevent growth of bacteria and fungi. These are toxic ingredients that are risks to human health and aquatic life so should also be disposed of carefully rather than allowed to flow untreated into water systems.

Thickening & Stabilizing Agents

Thickeners give truck wash solutions a gel-like consistency that adheres to vertical surfaces while stabilizers prevent ingredients from separating. Common options like polyethylene glycol and salts of acrylic acid & fatty acids are generally low risks for environmental toxicity.

The Problem of Runoff

The biggest problem with commercial truck wash cleaning agents arises when the contaminated wash water runoff is allowed to flow untreated down municipal drains and into nearby lakes, rivers and wetlands ecosystems.

Even truck wash soaps labeled as “non-toxic”, and “biodegradable” can have negative effects on water quality and marine life since they often still contain some amount of phosphates, nitrates or ammonia as well as traces of petroleum distillates and other active grease-cutting ingredients.

When allowed to collect in high concentrations, some studies have found truck wash runoff water to be acutely hazardous to fish and invertebrate populations which are highly sensitive to surfactants and solvents. The nutrients in these wash waters can also trigger algae overgrowth that starves water bodies of oxygen.

Best Practice Disposal Methods

To mitigate the risks, responsible truck wash owners should implement wash water recycling systems that collect, treat and reuse contaminated runoff onsite instead of releasing it into drains.

Affordable recycling systems are available that utilize sediment traps, oil water separators, biological treatment methods and various filtration media to remove contaminants so the water can be safely reused for future wash cycles. Any sludge collected can also then be disposed of through approved hazardous waste channels.

For cases when onsite treatment isn’t viable, some local municipalities have implemented truck wash waste disposal programs and designated receiving stations that properly handle and process the contaminated effluents before releasing the cleaned water. Truck wash owners should always check for the approved disposal methods in their local region.

Greener Wash Chemical Options

Many truck wash operators concerned about their environmental impact are also transitioning to using more eco-friendly cleaning agents for all or part of their wash process.

Options include:

• 100% biodegradable, plant-based soaps based on ingredients like lauryl glucosides & coco betaines. These can clean as effectively as traditional surfactants without the same environmental toxicity.
• Detergents made with food-grade ingredients like lemon, orange and other fruit extracts use the natural solvent properties of terpenes to dissolve oil and grease. Their pleasant smells also help mitigate foul odors that can linger around truck washes.
• Baking soda-based alkaline degreasers lift dirt without harsh chemicals.

The Role of Truck Wash Owners and Operators

While the cleaning agents and runoff disposal methods play a central role in the environmental impact of truck washes, the facilities’ owners and operators also have an important responsibility. The ecological stewardship of a truck wash starts from the top down.

Owners should proactively research the latest regulatory requirements in their jurisdiction and stay up to date on any newly restricted chemical ingredients, mandated pre-treatment methods or changes to disposal protocols. Keeping current helps avoid regulatory infractions.

Hiring trained staff and taking time to educate employees is equally important. Workers using the cleaning agents need to understand proper usage, containment, spill prevention and waste segregation procedures to implement sustainable practices. Management can reinforce eco-friendly behaviors through training programs and daily oversight of washing activities on the ground.

By taking accountability, staying informed, and enabling employees through upskilling, truck wash owners and operators can drive day-to-day habits that collectively add up to a dramatically smaller environmental footprint for their vital facilities.

Final Words

Responsible operation of truck washing facilities requires using cleaners with care, implementing good contaminant capture protocols, and disposing of wash waters through approved eco-friendly methods only. When wash runoff is allowed to flow freely into drains, even supposedly “non-toxic" agents can accumulate and harm bodies of water.

With growing concerns over water quality, multiple states have now placed legal restrictions around allowable phosphate levels, require truck wash runoff permits and mandate recycling systems. By taking the initiative to shift towards more sustainable wash practices and greener products, truck wash owners can get ahead of tightening regulations while also reducing their long term environmental liability.