ACS has welcomed an inquiry launched by the Environmental Audit Committee which seeks evidence ahead of a one-off session examining hand car washes.

Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee said: “Hand car washes are a familiar sight throughout the UK and often offer drivers a cheaper and more convenient alternative to automatic car washes, but they may be having a damaging environmental impact.

“Our inquiry will look at the environmental impact of hand car washes and ask how effective the regulations that govern them are.” 

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the Environmental Audit Committee’s attention on this issue. Over half of UK forecourts provide car wash facilities for customers with most of these being either automatic or jet washes. We will consult with members in the coming weeks and feed in to the Committee’s inquiry.”

ACS has produced a graphic detailing the key differences between hand car wash and automated car wash from an environmental perspective, which is available here: https://cdn.acs.org.uk/public/13.iv-_cwcg_car_wash_diagram.pdf

The full announcement from the EAC is available at https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news-parliament-2017/car-wash-inquiry-launch-17-19/

More information about the forecourt sector can be found in the 2017 Forecourt Report here: https://www.acs.org.uk/research/forecourt-report-2017