Background
See Resource Conservation and Recovery Act — General and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act — Underground Storage Tanks.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) encourages recycling of used oil. It also prohibits the use of used oil as a dust suppressant. The specific regulations governing management of used oil are in 40 CFR 279.
Key Concepts
Used Oil
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines used oil as petroleum or synthetic oils, used as a lubricant for hydraulic, heat transfer, or buoyancy purposes. When the oil is past its useful life, it becomes used oil.
Rebuttable Presumption for Used Oil
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires that facilities that generate oil with more than 1,000 parts of chlorine per million, by weight, manage that oil as a hazardous waste by default. EPA’s used oil regulations call this the “rebuttable presumption for used oil.” By documenting that the chlorine comes from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), facilities can manage the waste compressor oil under the ozone-depleting compounds regulations instead of used oil regulations. See Resource Conservation Recovery Act — Used Oil and Clean Air Act — Ozone-Depleting Compounds.
Does this apply to my campus?
Yes. Many campus activities generate used oil. These include servicing vehicles and hydraulic equipment, laboratory operations, metalworking, and generating power. Other oils, such as electrical insulating oils and hydraulic fluids, are also sources of regulated used oils.
Although RCRA does not regulate used polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and cooking oils as “used oil,” other regulatory programs do. See Toxic Substances Control Act — PCBs and Clean Water Act — Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures
What do I have to do?
Collect used oil in closed containers to prevent spills. Maintain the containers in good condition and label them with the words “Used Oil.” Clean up spills promptly. See CERCLA — Spills.
If you recycle your used oil, make sure that you or your waste oil recycler checks it for refrigerant CFCs. Keep a written log of used oil offered for recycling. Keep track of the dates, amounts, and the company that accepts your used oil. You should prevent mixture of used oils and hazardous wastes because more restrictive rules will apply to the mixture. See Resource Conservation and Recovery Act — Solid and Hazardous Waste.
Oils from used PCBs and cooking oils may be sources of water pollution. See Toxic Substances Control Act — Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Clean Water Act — Oil Spill Prevention (SPCC).