This is the 5‑minute version. If you want a full facility-walk checklist (intake → depollution → storage → stormwater → documentation), start here: Salvage Yard Pollution Risk Checklist (Auto Recyclers) . Every end‑of‑life vehicle holds gallons of risk—fuel, oil, coolant, brake fluid, refrigerants, battery acid. In an auto dismantling yard, pollution exposure isn’t an “if.” It’s a set of everyday pathways that insurers and regulators assume exist unless you can show controls. This rapid risk check helps you quickly spot where: A small leak can become a reportable release Stormwater can carry contaminants off-site Your insurance program may be counting on exclusions you didn’t realize were there It’s not legal advice and it won’t replace an environmental consultant. It’s a fast screen to help you prioritize what to fix and what to document. The issues discussed here make more sense when you understand how auto recycler insurance is structured and why standard policies often fall short — we break that down in our Auto Recycler Insurance Explained guide. The 60‑second self‑score Answer Yes / No / Not sure : We can explain (and show) how fluids move from vehicle → container → vendor, without guessing. We know where stormwater flows during a heavy rain—and what keeps it on-site. Our outdoor fluid storage has secondary containment (or is protected by design). Our spill response plan is realistic—and employees are trained. We know whether a pollution event would be covered or excluded under our current policies. If you have more than one Not sure , you’re likely carrying avoidable risk and renewal friction. The 5 quick checks 1) Fluid storage and secondary containment Question: If a drum tips or a valve leaks, where does the liquid go? Why insurers care: Improper storage is one of the clearest “predictable pathway” problems. When releases are foreseeable, carriers assume the loss will be treated as gradual pollution (often excluded) rather than an accidental event.