The United States Postal Service® has established policies to reduce pollution from stormwater and snowmelt, which can cause oil and other hazardous chemicals or pollutants to enter the environment. These policies protect the environment and require employees and suppliers to take specific actions to minimize pollution.
USPS® employees and suppliers must never allow vehicle wash water to enter stormwater drains. Instead, vehicle washing must be conducted inside vehicle wash bays (typically at Postal Service™ vehicle maintenance facilities) or conducted outside by third-party vehicle washing suppliers that use approved, zero discharge washing methods. Sites that do not have a vehicle maintenance facility or third-party vehicle washing supplier available must use either a dry-wash or waxing process onsite, or take the vehicle to an offsite car wash facility to ensure compliance with environmental requirements.
Postal Service sites using third-party vehicle washing services must establish contracts through the Vehicles, Delivery, and Industrial Equipment Category Management Center (CMC) using the nationally approved statement of work for vehicle washing. Contracts established through the CMC require suppliers who wash vehicles to use either a dry wipe process or a wet wash that collects and contains wash water for proper offsite management.
To establish a vehicle washing contract for your location, contact Carla Van Istendal by email at carla.vanistendal@usps.gov or by phone at 215-863-5397.
For more information, refer to the Vehicle Washing Requirements Environmental Compliance Bulletin at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/ecb-vehiclewashing.pdf.
— Office of Sustainability,
Deputy Postmaster General, 8-13-20
