About Us
Created by robert.w.burke on 15 Jun 2006 | Tagged as: General
Wayne Auto Spa, is a Wayne, New Jersey car wash that also features a Castrol Quick Lube. Rob Burke and Rob Kaplan purchased the car wash from its former owner and put a great deal of time, effort and money into turning the Auto Spa into a state of the art facility. The Auto Spa is designed to be environmentally friendly. For instance, 58 solar panels on the roof of the facility provide electricity for the Auto Spa. Waste water from car washes is treated with our advanced filtration system to remove impurities, and we dispose of waste oil from oil changes by burning it in our furnaces to create heat for the Auto Spa.
Aside from its environmental friendliness, Wayne Auto Spa gives back to the local community by hosting events for local sports teams, charities and community causes. Check in here frequently to see which community organizations are holding their events at the Auto Spa.
You can call us at 973.835.7765.
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“Pretty Cool” mi amigo - I have to admitt after reading a few of your comments I feel inspired to act more proactively in terms of energy.
Keep going!!!!!!!
Rick,
Thanks for the kind words. The reaction from the community has been great. We hope we can do some good here and lead by example.
Regards,
Rob
I came across an article on Modern Car Care.com that outlined the work you have done at Wayne Auto Spa to make your business more sustainable. Just awesome stuff. I work for Community Energy, a wind energy developer based in Wayne, PA. We built the AC Wind Farm along with several other projects around the country, and we are familiar with the challenges associated with wind energy development. What you’re doing is great and I hope you have success bringing clean, emission-free energy to your business and town. Feel free to call or email me to discuss (609.315.1646)! Good Luck!
Hi Nick. Thanks so much for your kind words. I will email you to start a conversation about the various issues we face. I’m interested to get an idea of how your experience might be similar.
Rob
Rob,
I read about your carwash and would love to recruit you as an author for Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine.
Call me when you are free to write and we’ll whip up a great article.
Cheers,
Kristen Wesolowski
Managing Editor
Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine
Latham, NY
518.783.1281 x3163
Thanks, Kristen. I would be happy to write something for you. I will call you after the New Year.
Happy Holidays,
Rob
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HAVE HAD PAST PROBLEMS WITH THE EPA?
No Thomas, that is not true. What you have probably found are problems that the prior owner had with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. During his ownership, there were underground storage tanks that leaked gasoline into the ground. As part of our acquisition, we required that the prior owner clean up the property. That remediation has been completed. The paperwork from the NJDEP to close that case out should be forthcoming.
In addition, the prior owner had a permit to discharge dirty car wash water into the Pompton River. As soon as we acquired the car wash we connected to the municipal sewer system and closed that permit.
Hope that answers your questions.
Your confusion probably stems from the fact that Wayne Auto Spa, Inc. had these issues. That’s not our company — that’s the prior owner’s company.
Rob,
I am a student at Ramapo College of New Jersey and I have been assigned an assignment on solar panels. I would greatly appreciate if I could set up a time to talk with you about your investment and ask you some questions.
Thank you!
Amy
Amy,
I’d be glad to help. I will send you an email to schedule a time.
Thanks,
Rob
Great Work guys. I am on the other corner of the country (southern calif) but we hear about your efforts… and commend you with great enthusiasm. we also hear about the opposition from a community laden with misplaced fears of phantom risks associated with green technology while oblivious and/or complacent about the proven risks of yesterday’s technology.
the same people who worry about their children’s health related to the wind tower likely swaddle their infants in clothing and cribs laden with PBDE (a flame retardant now considered linked to ADHD in teens).
the same people concerned with noise likely go to truckstops and don’t think twice about the idling semis or using their leaf blower on a saturday morning.
you’ll win in the end… but you’ll have to keep up the fight. seems like your convictions are solid… the world needs people like you.
my neighbor complained about the mere mention of our placing solar panels on our roof (flat against the roof) for aesthetic reasons. I asked him if he preferred the 8 thick electical/cable etc lines that crossed between his home and our. I asked if he minded the two telephone polls on his property. “Nope”, he responded without the slightest irony or satire.. these conventional eyesores didn’t bother him. Solar panels, however, now that was an affront to his delicate nature.
people are deeply (and uncritically) invested in the status quo. Again, great work… you are playing an inspirational role.
pete sherman
Robert,
I had a meeting at FDU this morning with the ISE. They brought your case to my attention and suggested there might be some synergy between my product and your situation. I would be happy to help and curious to learn about this process from your perspective. Fell free to give me a call at 973-206-1480. Thank you.
Matt Murphy
We own a car wash in Bergenfield, NJ. Our electric bill is one of our largest expenses. We would like to look into solar but don’t know where to start. Can you help?
hi there. i’d be glad to meet with you and help you figure out whether solar is a viable alternative for you. send me an email and let me know when you’d like to meet. i’d suggest you come up to wayne so i can actually show you the things that your asking about.
look forward to hearing from you,
rob
Hi Robert,
I read the article in the saturday record. I commend your efforts and hope you succeed. If you have a petition to sign, I’d gladly do that.
I’m an engineer in NNJ (Bergen County) with my own electronics firm, looking into wind, solar and even h2 fuel cell filling stations.
Please keep me informed.
Good Luck,
Steve Hirschman
Thanks, Steve. It is truly incredible that crimes are being committed against me because I am trying to install a 43 foot tall wind turbine at a car wash.
I appreciate your kind words and support.
Thanks again,
Rob
Wind Turbines ‘Inherently Beneficial’; NJ Lawmakers Reject Rumana Claims of Dangerous Ice, Noise
Well, turbines do throw ice in the winter but that should not be the main reason for prohibiting construction. There is nothing remotely “fear-mongering” about Rumana’s statements.
Wind turbines are only capable of producing 30% of rated capacity. They are not a sound investment or practical for commercial applications to generate power on any scale which is the main reason why the media never provides data on wind farms to the public.
The costs are usually 3-5 times that of conventional requiring constant maintenance and a huge footprint to operate and has always has to be subsidized by the taxpayer. It sounds “green”, but in reality it is a burden to the taxpayer and to the communities who have to deal with it.
It makes no sense to waste taxpayer money on something that is totally unreliable and inefficient and definitely not inherently beneficial to the consumer.
LOL! You are funny! Who is spending any taxpayer money? Not me. I am trying to spend MY MONEY!
Burden to the taxpayer? Huh?
Can you cite a single example of ice throw from wind turbine? Nope.
Ya know why?
Because its never happened in the history of the world.
And its definitely never happened at George Bush’s house at Kennebunkport, Maine.
And he spent his own money on his own wind turbine at that very house.
I think you need to study up!
Great job, Robert. I live in Wayne and applaud you for the job you have done with that car wash. It was junk before now at least it is green. A recommendation: change the inside a little bit. It is very dated, also your vacuuming is not as good as others around the area. maybe the suction is not working, or perhaps the guys you have working do not do a good job. other than that keep up the great work, and F the haters. Also I do detailing work and it would be nice if you had a side detailing area, maybe a small garage? let me know if you are interested in setting something up with me.
Hi Jamie. Thanks for your kind words about our struggle to install a wind turbine at the car wash.
Regarding your comment about detailing, I am a bit confused. You suggest we add a side detailing area/small garage — yet we already have a detailing garage. Menu boards for detailing are displayed throughout the property. I’m surprised you missed all that; I don’t know how to give it more prominence. Maybe if you come by again you can seek me out and you can share more particular thoughts.
As to your comment on our vacuuming, I’d suggest that if you ever do have a problem with any of our work, please bring it to someone’s attention. We’re focused on making sure all of our customers leave happy. In the meantime, I will double up my attention on that end of our service to ensure that it consistently meets our standards.
Thanks again for your comment.
Rob
I am a local resident and I am dumbfounded at the Wayne local government’s reaction to this wind turbine situation. Regardless of how annoying or irritating you might be in your pursuit of the turbine - Wayne officials are clearly wrong in their responses, when they do respond, and more so when they have chosen not to respond. I hope that you do continue to aggressively pursue them and hold them accountable for their actions. It appears they keep hoping you will go away. I will continue to frequent your business and actively urge neighbors to do the same.
Thanks for your post, Todd. I appreciate your support.
It should be well understood at this juncture that I am not going anywhere. Higher authorities than Mayor Christopher Vergano, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Council President Joseph Scuralli & Township Attorney Mark Semeraro will make the final decision on this subject.
Rob