The reasons why collection is crucial:
Did you know that spilling just one 55-gallon drum of oil can pollute one million gallons of drinking water? Whether the spill occurs on land, underground or in water, oil is highly dispersant and will ultimately impact groundwater unless the spill is properly contained. Oil spills can also impact us indirectly by contaminating food sources, decreasing property values or disrupting recreational activities.
While there are many reasons to handle used oil responsibly, the most prevalent reason is to prevent oil spills to reduce cross contamination with our environment. Any crude oil or oil-based product can pollute land, air or water because it can contain toxic substances such as benzene, lead, zinc and cadmium.
What it comes down to is: if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t dump it.
Risks and requirements around used oil disposal
Storage, treatment and disposal are regulated requirements if your business generates used oil. Whether your company generates used motor oil from oil changes, used hydraulic fluids or metalworking fluids from machinery, or otherwise, you have a vested interest in making sure that oil is compliantly collected. Used oil is fully regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and tracked by the EPA, as well as labeled as hazardous waste with cradle-to-grave responsibility under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Used oil is a valuable resource
What’s more, used oil is a valuable commodity with two common treatment methods: burning for energy recovery or re-refining. Used oil is seen as a valuable feedstock for both processes. Because of this, there is no time limit for accumulation, which benefits generators and collectors. The EPA supports re-refining because there is no limit to the number of times used oil can be collected, re-refined and used as base oil to create new finished lubricants.
Finding the right partner to manage used oil end-to-end
But to stay compliant, oil must be properly stored if it is in your possession to minimize the chance of leaks or spills. Partnering with certified professionals to manage this part of your business can reduce your risk and improve your efficiencies. Safety-Kleen offers complete oil management programs that can help your facility with compliant storage, proper spill protection, safe transportation and innovative solutions to conserve this limited resource.
Safety-Kleen is the leading collector and re-refiner of used oil in North America, utilizing innovative technologies to produce high-performance lubricants for use in all industries. This closed-loop process maximizes efficiencies while protecting our environment.
No matter your industry, no matter the source, Safety-Kleen is here to collect your hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, protecting your business while protecting the environment. See all the ways Safety-Kleen can benefit your industry, here.