RIVERSIDE, CA - The Riverside County Fleet Services facility in Hemet is the County's fourth fleet facility to be recognized as a Certified Green Station by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Fleet Services works in seven facilities throughout the County, servicing about 4,000 units. The Hemet facility services light-duty vehicles, including public safety units, according to Ted Trujillo, operations manager for Fleet Services. Fleet began the certifications in 2009. The remaining three facilities are pending certification, and Trujillo said he hopes those will be certified by the end of this year.

"We're already operating under those requirements," Trujillo said. Fleet only needs to submit the application and await an inspection.

According to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control's website, the program promotes pollution prevention practices in daily operations through the use of water-based cleaners, dry clean-up of fluid spills, programs for recycling fluids and filters, less toxic paints and coatings, and paint waste management processes. To become certified, a fleet facility must submit an application to the Department and pass the inspection. Facilities must be re-certified annually; fleets submit a CUPA inspection report to the department, something the County already produces, according to Trujillo.

"It is good for the community to know that we're operating as a pollution-free [service department], and also it brings a sense of accomplishment and achievement to our technicians and supervisors," Trujillo said.