West Asheville’s Organic Mechanic profiled

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Mother Nature Network has the story:

Charley Wilson has been passionate about fixing cars since he was a teenager, but he can hardly be called a grease monkey. This becomes apparent the moment one walks into the service bay of the 34-year-old’s Asheville, N.C., repair shop. The floors have neither a drop of oil nor a mark of grime, and there is no drain where he could have easily washed them away. When Wilson first moved in, however, he scraped a half inch of caked-on filth off the floor, and cleaned and sealed a drain that led to a nearby river. But Wilson is not just a neatnik, he’s The Organic Mechanic—an early adopter of a new approach to auto repair.  Wilson’s three-year-old business is just one of many across the country redefining what is traditionally viewed as a dirty business.

Wilson has since found a plethora of ways to make repairs cleaner and more efficient. He recycles his oil by selling it to a refinery, and then buys back the re-refined oil. He has also invested in a bioremediation device—a special sink that contains bacteria to break down and wash away grease. Small measures like using a refillable bottle containing a biodegradeable, citrus-based degreaser also help his cause. Behind the shop, double-walled storage bins prevent accidental leakage of used antifreeze and oil until the liquids are picked up for recycling. The parking lot is as clean as the service bay, so rain doesn’t carry pollutants into storm drains. “You’re making an impact at different levels,” says Wilson. “What we’re offering customers is another way to make a little bit of a difference.”