Used Oil, Oil Filter and Oily Debris Management and Disposal
Oil Filters
Oil filters must be
managed in accordance with Federal and State regulations. Oil filters are exempt
from Hazardous Waste laws should they be drained and free from any other
hazardous contaminants. The filter must be drained: “to the extent
possible such that there are no visible signs of free-flowing oil.” The
Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations state in 40 CFR
261.4(b)(13) that:
(13)
Non-terne plated used oil filters that are not mixed with wastes listed in
subpart D of this part if these oil filters have been gravity hot-drained using
one of the following methods:
(i)
Puncturing the
filter anti-drain back valve or the filter dome end and hot-draining:
(ii)
Hot-draining and
crushing:
(iii)
Dismantling and
hot-draining; or
(iv)
Any other
equivalent hot-draining method that will remove used oil
Oil
filters should be drained using one of the methods stated above. The oil
drained from the filters should be collected as “Used Oil”. Once
the filter is drained it may be placed in the solid waste or scrap metal waste.
Many types of oil filters are eligible for the scrap metal exemption should
they be properly drained.
The
Environmental Protection Agency requires the filters to be “hot
drained.” They define “hot draining” as the filter being
drained near engine operating temperature. In an EPA publication (EPA
530-F-94-008) entitled Collecting Used Oil for Recycling/Reuse, the EPA
approximates “hot draining” to be 60° F. The EPA also recommends that the filters be
drained for twelve (12) hours prior to disposal.
Additionally,
this exclusion is limited only to “non-terne” filters. Terne
filters are an alloy of lead and tin and are typically found on heavy machinery
and trucks. Terne filters would carry a Hazardous Waste Code of D008
(characteristic code for lead) and as such must be treated as a Hazardous
Waste. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that the generator
contact the manufacturer to determine if a filter is a terne or non-terne
filter, as it may be hard to determine.
- Non-terne
Filters Management and Disposal Protocol
- Oil filters will be gravity drained at or above
60
- The filters should be drained by puncturing the
anti-drain back valve or filter dome.
- The filters will be drained into an appropriate
"Used Oil" collection container for a minimum of 12 hours.
- Once the filter has drained for 12 hours it will
be discarded into the scrap metal waste stream.
- The Environmental Health Office will remove the
used oil container for disposal once it has reached its capacity.
- Terne Filters
Management and Disposal Protocol
- Terne filters will be collected for disposal in
an appropriate hazardous waste collection container.
- The container must be properly labeled and
stored while the waste is accumulating in the Satellite Accumulation
Area. Please review the proper hazardous waste labeling and storage
requirements in the Hazardous Waste Management Manual.
- The Environmental Health Office will remove the
container for disposal once it has reached its capacity.
Used Oil
Used oil must be managed
in accordance with Federal and State regulations. Used Oil is managed under 40
CFR Part 279 – “Standards for the Management of Used Oil”.
Used Oil is not a RCRA waste as long as it does not contain RCRA listed
contaminants and does not exhibit any characteristics of hazardous waste as
identified in subpart C of part 261. Used Oil must be stored in accordance with
40 CFR 279.22 which states:
Used
oil generators are subject to all applicable Spill Prevention, Control and
Countermeasures (40 CFR part 112) in addition to the requirements of this Subpart.
Used oil generators are also subject to the Underground Storage Tank (40 CFR
part 280) standards for used oil stored in underground tanks whether or not the
used oil exhibits any characteristics of hazardous waste, in addition to the
requirements of this subpart.
(a) Storage Units. Used oil generators shall not store
used oil in units other than tanks, containers, or units subject to regulation
under parts 264 or 265 of this chapter.
(b) Condition of units. Containers and aboveground tanks
used to store used oil at generators facilities must be:
(1)
In good condition (no severe rusting, apparent structural defects or
deterioration); and
(2) Not leaking (no visible leaks).
(c) Labels. (1) Containers and aboveground tanks used to
store used oil at generator facilities must be labeled or marked clearly with
the words “Used Oil.”
(2)
Fill pipes used to transfer used oil into underground storage tanks at
generator facilities must be labeled or marked clearly with the words
“Used Oil.”
(d) Response to releases. Upon detection of a release of
used oil to the environment that is not subject to the requirements of part
280, subpart F of this chapter and which has occurred after the effective date
of the recycled used oil management program in effect in the State in which the
release is located, a generator must perform the following cleanup steps:
1) Stop the release;
2) Contain the released used oil;
3) Clean up and manage properly the release used oil
and other materials and;
4) If necessary, repair or replace any leaking used oil
storage containers or tanks prior to returning them to service.
Used
oil should be collected as stated above and the Environmental Health Office
should be called when the used oil container is approaching its capacity. The
Environmental Health Office is responsible for the shipment and disposal of the
Used Oil containers. Furthermore, if any release of used oil to the environment
is detected the Environmental Health Office must be notified. The Environmental
Health Office will notify the NYSDEC spill hotline within two hours of the
spill at (800) 457-7362.
- Used Oil Management and Disposal Protocol
- Used oil must be collected in a suitable
container, which is in good condition. No evidence of dents, corrosion,
weakness or holes.
- The container must be stored in secondary
containment and the containment must be large enough to contain 110% of
the contents of the largest container.
- The container must be stored closed except when
waste is being added or removed.
- The container must be properly labeled with a
University approved "Used Oil" label.
- The Environmental Health Office must be
contacted if there are any suspected hazardous contaminants in the oil.
The label should be marked with any possible hazardous contaminants.
- The Environmental Health Office will make final
waste determinations based upon analytical results and process review.
- The Environmental Health Office will remove the
container for disposal once it has reached its capacity.
Oily Debris
The
EPA does not regulate oily rags as a waste as long as the rags do not have any
free-flowing oil, are free of any other hazardous contaminant and do not meet
the definition of a characteristic hazardous waste. Rags, which contain
free-flowing liquid, must be treated as used oil products. Rags, which contain
hazardous contaminants or meet the definition of a characteristic waste, must
be handled as hazardous waste.
The
same would be true for other means of oil contaminated debris. This would
include materials such as sorbent pads and oil dry. The Environmental Health
Office should collect these materials for disposal in order to alleviate any
concerns regarding environmental compliance. The best solution for oily rags is
to have them collected, cleaned and reused using a laundry service.
- Oily Debris Management and Disposal Protocol
- Must be collected in a suitable container, which
is in good condition. No evidence of dents, corrosion, weakness or holes.
- The material may be bagged first in order to
facilitate removal from the collection container.
- The container must be stored in secondary
containment and the containment must be large enough to contain 110% of
the contents of the largest container.
- The container must be stored closed except when
waste is being added or removed.
- The container must be properly labeled with a
University approved “Oily Debris” label.
- The Environmental Health Office must be
contacted if there are any suspected hazardous contaminants in the oil.
The label should be marked with any possible hazardous contaminants.
- The Environmental Health Office will make final
waste determinations based upon analytical results and process review.
- The Environmental Health Office will remove the
contents of the container for disposal once it has reached its capacity.
Rags, which are collected and managed through a laundry service, are exempt
from these protocols.
Last modified on 09/01/05