Used Oil
Auto Body Shops
Pollution Prevention Guide
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Used oil is defined as any oil that has been refined
from crude oil or any synthetic oil, and has been contaminated by physical or
chemical impurities as a result of use. Used lubricants and transmission fluid
are also considered used oil. Grease can be considered a used oil as long as
it has been refined from crude or synthetic oil.
Through normal use, metal and dirt can contaminate vehicle oils. These potentially
toxic contaminants could cause the used oil to be characterized as hazardous.
Fortunately, used oils are exempt from federal and some state hazardous
waste regulations Fact Sheet 3
- Defining A Waste) as long as the oils are reused or recycled and are
not mixed with other hazardous materials such as chlorinated solvents.
The main pollution prevention options for used oils include:
- Reusing and recycling used oil appropriately
- Disposing of used oil properly
Reusing And Recycling Used
Oil
Instead of having it hauled off as a waste, used oil can be used as fuel for
space heaters and industrial kilns, furnaces, and boilers. This practice can
help you reduce your fuel and waste disposal bills. Depending on the circumstances,
the payback period for installing a used-oil heater can be very short.
Small businesses in some cases can burn their own used oils or that from "do-it-yourselfers"
(homeowners) as long as the shop heater does not exceed 500,000 British Thermal
Units (BTUs) per hour (as comparison, an average-sized Montana service station
needs a heater rated at approximately 100,000 BTUs per hour). The exhaust gases
from the heater must be vented to the outside of the building.
If you do not have a space heater in your shop, the next best option is to
recycle your used oil. There are a number of companies in Montana that will
pick up your oil and transport it to a re-refining or reprocessing facility.
You may also be able to purchase recycled oil for use in your shop from these
same companies.
Disposal Options For Used
Oil
Used oil that is to be disposed of, and contains a listed hazardous waste
or exhibits a hazardous waste characteristic, must be disposed of as a hazardous
waste. If the used oil is non-hazardous, then it must be disposed of according
to solid waste regulations. Contact your local solid waste management facility
for assistance.
In general, it is illegal to use used oil generated by a shop for dust suppression
or weed killing on publicly owned roads or parking lots. Improperly applied
used oils can contaminate soil and surface water or groundwater systems. One
gallon of used oil from a single oil change can pollute a million gallons of
drinking water -- a year's supply for 50 people.
The following series of questions will help you develop ways of preventing
pollution in used oil management.
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Used Oils
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YES
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NO
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| 1) Do you use oil additives? Oil additives sometimes
contain chlorinated compounds which can be a regulated hazardous waste.
Keeping chlorinated products out of your used oil is important in maximizing
your reuse and recycling options. |
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| 2) Do you keep used oil separate from other wastes? Keeping
used oil separate from other wastes is important in maximizing your reuse
and recycling options. |
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| 3) Do you reuse your used oil in a shop heater? Many
shop owners have found significant cost savings when they use used oil in
their space heaters. |
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| 4) Do you have your used oil collected by a recycler?
If you don't, consider having your used oil recycled by a company that
reprocesses or re-refines used oil. In return, purchase your oil in bulk
from a re-refiner to encourage used oil reuse and recycling. |
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| 5) If you recycle your used oil, do you combine it with other
oils for recycling? Some recyclers allow the mixing of non-hazardous
used oil and other non-hazardous oils generated in a shop. Check with your
oil recycler to determine whether you can combine transmission oil and/or
brake fluid with used engine oil. |
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| 6) Do you accept used oil from individuals? Auto
body shops can in some states accept used oil from homeowners for recycling
or reuse in the shop's burner as long as it is specification oil (see Glossary).
However, it is recommended that you always question the source prior to
acceptance. |
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Fact sheet 9 of 18
Montana State University Extension Service
Pollution Prevention Program Taylor Hall Bozeman, Montana 59717
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