Disposal of Used Motor Oils
The United States generates about 1.3 billion gallons of used oil annually, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA defines used motor oil as any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used for vehicle lubrication. As a result of normal use, motor oil becomes contaminated with impurities such as dirt, water, chemicals or metals from automobile engines.
The following are examples of used oil:
- Synthetic oil - usually derived from coal, shale or polymer-based starting material
- Engine oil - typically includes gasoline and diesel engine crankcase oils and piston-engine oils for automobiles, trucks, boats, airplanes, locomotives and heavy equipment
- Transmission fluid
- Industrial hydraulic fluid
- Refrigeration oil
- Compressor oils
- Metalworking fluids and oils
- Laminating oils
- Copper and aluminum wire drawing solution
- Electrical insulating oil
- Industrial process oils
- Oils used as buoyants.
The following are not considered used oils:
- Products such as antifreeze and kerosene
- Waste oil that is bottom clean-out waste from virgin fuel storage tanks, virgin fuel oil spill cleanups or other oil wastes that have not actually been used
- Vegetable and animal oil, even when used as a lubricant
- Petroleum distillates used as solvents.
According to Stephen Christie, executive director of the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA), “Used oil is collected by installers into tanks on site, picked up by licensed used oil transporters which either recycle it in their own facilities or resell it to other recyclers. Virtually all of the used motor oil collected by the do-it-for-me (DIFM) market is appropriately treated.”
DIFM centers, including quick lubes, auto dealers and other businesses that change oil, perform about 55 percent of the nation's oil changes. The other 45 percent are performed by do-it-yourselfers (DIY).
Improper Disposal of Used Oil
Used motor oil that is poured onto the ground, into a storm drain or into the trash (even in a sealed container) is being disposed of improperly. This used oil can work its way into lakes, streams and waterways, polluting water bodies and drinking water supplies as well as damaging aquatic environments and wildlife. Used motor oil can contain potentially toxic substances such as lead, benzene, zinc or magnesium.
Used motor oil can be classified as hazardous if it contains the following:
- Additives (e.g., rust inhibitors)
- Contaminants (e.g., heavy metals generated through engine wear or externally introduced materials such as PCBs from old transformer oils)
- Potentially carcinogenic, polycyclic, aromatic compounds (from the fuel combustion process)
- Glycol leaked from the cooling system.
Proper recycling ensures that used motor oil does not make its way into local surface and groundwater resources. Oil that gets into the environment can quickly pollute large amounts of water. One gallon of motor oil can, for example:
- Create an oil slick on surface water up to 8 acres in size
- Contaminate 1 million gallons of fresh water - a year's supply of water for 50 people!
- Render a 4-acre area of soil unusable for planting for decades.
In addition, used oil is insoluble and slow to degrade. It is also very sticky, posing a health threat to people, plants, animals and the environment.
Recycling Used Oil
Oil originates from fossil fuels and is a valuable resource in its original form and as a recyclable substance. Oil can be reused and recycled through reconditioning, reprocessing and re-refining. These recycling efforts help to:
- Save energy
- Conserve natural resources
- Protect the environment
- Reuse an existing resource
- Save money
Used motor oil is also a valuable energy resource. A large portion of the used motor oil collected is reprocessed into fuel that is burned in furnaces, turbines, power plants and manufacturing facilities to provide heat and electricity. To put this into perspective, 2 gallons of used motor oil can generate enough electricity to:
- Power the average home for 1 day
- Cook 48 meals in a microwave oven
- Blow-dry a person's hair at least 216 times
- Vacuum a house for 15 months
- Watch television for 7 1/2 days (180 hours) straight!
