| What
is "Used Oil"? Used
oil includes petroleum or synthetic oil used as a lubricant,
heat transfer fluid, hydraulic fluid or any similar
uses.
What are "Used
Oil-Related Wastes"?
Used oil filters and materials
used to soak up oil (sorbents) are common used oil-related
wastes. |
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Waste & compliance management including: |
- Facility compliance
self-audits
- Waste profiling and testing
- Waste prevention, handling and storage
training
- Spill prevention, control and clean-up
training
- Generator record and reporting management
- Regulatory compliance and permit management
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Environmental Concerns
Used oil, filters and used oil-contaminated
sorbent materials often contain hazardous contaminants,
such as flammable fuels and their additives, lead and
other toxic metals. Disposed of improperly; used oil
can kill vegetation and wildlife and pollute surface
water and ground water. For this reason, it is illegal
to:
- Pour used oil on the ground.
- Pour used oil down a drain or
sewer.
- Put used oil in the trash.
- Apply used oil to roads
for dust suppression
Waste Prevention
Ways to decrease used oil-related
wastes:
- Use drain systems designed for
used oil.
- Use drip pans to capture used
oil drips and spills.
- Pick up used oil spilled outside
of drip pans in liquid form by using a dustpan and
squeegee (rather than using sorbents and generating
another waste).
- If sorbents must be used, choose
those that can be recycled, wrung, laundered or burned
for energy.
- When possible, purchase product
in bulk to eliminate multiple small plastic containers.
- If using plastic quart containers,
design a drain system to empty them sufficiently to
allow the plastic to be recycled.
Containment, Storage and Labeling
Store used oil, used oil filters
and used oil contaminated sorbents in closed, leak-proof
tanks or containers.
Mark containers - "used oil"
(including used-oil tanks and tank fill pipes.) Do not
mark containers of used oil destined for recycling with
the words "Hazardous Waste." Proper labeling
is "Used Oil."
Place all containers on a hard surface
reasonably impervious to oil. Asphalt that is in good
condition may qualify as "reasonably impervious"
for a while; however, oil will break down the asphalt,
allowing it to filter through. Sealing an asphalt and
concrete surface or using a secondary containment system
designed for used oil provides better protection.
When possible, store used oil containers
indoors to prevent releases caused by rain seeping into
closed containers and displacing the oil.
Storing in Tanks
If you are using above-ground
storage tanks (ASTs) with a capacity of 500 gallons
or more or underground storage tanks (USTs) larger than
100 gallons to store used oil, they must be registered
with the MPCA. A tank facility that does not have a
person on site 24 hours a day must have a sign with
the name, address and telephone number of the facility
owner, operator or local emergency response. The sign
must be posed in a conspicuous place and legible from
outside any secondary containment area.
Mixing
- Do not mix antifreeze,
chlorinated solvents (such as many carburetor or brake
cleaners), gasoline, engine degreasers, paint thinners
or anything else with used oil.
- Used oil that has other
waste with it must be evaluated (tested), as the mixture
may be a hazardous waste.
- To prevent inadvertent mixing,
separate used oil containers from solvent and other
waste container in your storage area.
- Label the containers!
One
exception regarding mixing, very small quantity generators
(those producing less than 220 pounds - about 22 gallons
liquid - of hazardous waste per month) may mix petroleum
based parts washer waste that is hazardous only because
it is ignitable, (140° F 
100° F flash point) with their used oil and manage
the mixture as used oil provided:
- The solvent does not contain
metal-bearing paint.
- The solvent is not an F-listed
hazardous waste such as some carburetor and brake
cleaners.
- The solvent is not gasoline.
- The solvent does not exceed
10% of the total volume of the final mixture.
- The flash point of the solvent
is above 100° F.
Spills
- When developing guidelines for
managing oil, start at the beginning to avoid spills!
- Develop and practice proper handling
procedures and careful work habits.
- Use appropriate tools such as
funnels and spigots.
- Perform regular preventive maintenance.
- Be prepared. Keep spill containment
and clean up materials in a convenient, nearby area.
Train employees when and how to use them. Some shops
have oil-water separators on the drain connected to
the sewer to collect small drips, spills and grit.
To ensure oil does not enter the sanitary sewer, service
the separator regularly. Skim off the oil and place
it in the used oil container and remove and evaluate
the collected grit.
- Contain and clean up liquid spills
on impermeable surfaces by using squeegees and dustpans,
mops or vacuums designed for liquids. If sorbents
are required, use sparingly and only after all liquid
oil that can be recovered is recovered.
- Control spills on land by using
soil, sand, sorbent socks or granules to build a barrier
to contain flowing oil. Recover liquid oil using appropriate
pumps or vacuum trucks. Contaminated soil, sand and
clay sorbent must be excavated or recovered and treated
at a permitted facility.
- Report all used oil or other
petroleum spills of five gallons or more to the State
Duty Officer. Regardless of amount, if your spill
enters a sewer, ditch or surface waterway of any kind,
report the spill to the National
Response Center.
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Shipping Requirements
Used oil generators may transport
up to 55 gallons of used oil or sorbents in their own
vehicle. If hauling your own oil wastes, you must:
- Take the oil, filters and / or
sorbents to a collection site or to an aggregation
point owned by the generator.
- Ensure that filters and sorbents
do not contain free-flowing oil.
- Ensure that used oil does not
leak during transport.
If not hauled by the generator, used
oil must be hauled by an oil hauler having an U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) identification number. Neither
a hazardous-waste manifest nor a hazardous-waste transporter
is required when transporting used oil destined for
recycling.
Records
Generators must keep records
at their businesses of all shipments of used oil, used
oil filters and absorbents, including those records
they make themselves. Used oil and used oil filter haulers
are required to give receipts whenever they pick up
oil or filters; generators may use these receipts as
their records or they may use a log. Records for used
oil, used oil filters and used oil contaminated sorbents
should include:
- The date of the shipment.
- The amount shipped.
- The name and identification number
of the transporter (if applicable).
- Where the waste was taken.
Very small quantity generators who
mix parts washing solvent with used oil must also:
- Keep records of the amount of
solvent mixed.
- Report it annually.
- If generating more than 10 gallons
of hazardous waste per year, obtain a Hazardous Waste
Generators License.
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