Page 595 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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566 Waste Management Practices: Municipal, Hazardous, and Industrial

TABLE 19.3
Examples of Used Oil according to 40 CFR Part 260.10

Used Oil Not Used Oil
Engine oil (gasoline, diesel engine, crankcase oils, Waste oil that is bottom cleanout waste from
piston-engine oils for cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, virgin fuel storage tanks, fuel oil spill cleanups,
locomotives, and heavy equipment) or other oil wastes that have not been used.
Synthetic oil (from coal, shale, or polymer-based
starting material)
Transmission fluid Products such as antifreeze and kerosene
Refrigeration oil Vegetable and animal oil, even when
Compressor oil used as a lubricant.
Metalworking fluids and oils Petroleum distillates used as solvents.
Industrial and hydraulic fluid
Copper and aluminum wire drawing solution
Electrical insulating oil
Industrial process oils
Oils used as buoyant
Source: U.S. EPA, 2003. With permission.

be designated a RCRA hazardous waste, and to formulate regulations for its appropriate management
and disposal. In 1985 the EPA proposed a rule to list all used oil as hazardous waste (U.S. EPA, 1994).
Standards were proposed for recycling used oil and restrictions were established regarding the burn-
ing of used oil. The new rule raised concerns, however, that the new restrictions and associated
increased costs for management may discourage recycling. By the following year, the EPA rescinded
the rule (RCRA, 1999). In November 29, 1986, EPA designated used oil as a nonhazardous waste.
Based on reviews of toxicological and other data, a court decision in 1988 required the EPA to
reconsider their most recent designation of used oil. In response to these conflicting factions, three
options for used oil management were published in the 1991 Federal Register:

● To designate all used oils as listed hazardous wastes under RCRA
● To designate only certain used oils (primarily nonindustrial oils) as hazardous
● To formulate management standards for used oil and classify used oils as RCRA haz-
ardous material when disposed (RCRA, 1999)

On May 20, 1992, a final ruling stated that used oil destined for disposal would not be listed as
a hazardous waste. The EPA reasoned that used oil has the potential to be recycled or re-refined.
Used oil could then be utilized as a fuel or recycled as a lubricant instead of disposed of in land-
fills. Under the final ruling, in addition, drained used oil filters could also be disposed of as non-
hazardous waste (40 CFR Part 261.4). On September 10, 1992, the Used Oil Management Standards
were published in the Federal Register (U.S. EPA, 1999). The standards are codified in 40 CFR Part
279. The standards regulate used oil generators, collection centers, transporters and transfer facili-
ties, re-refiners, used oil burners that burn off-specification used oil, facilities using the oil as a dust
suppressant, and facilities that dispose of used oil.

19.7 REQUIREMENTS OF THE USED OIL MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

19.7.1 USED OIL GENERATORS
Any business that produces used oil as a result of commercial or industrial operations, or collects
used oil from these operations or private households is classified as a used oil generator. Examples