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j `Managing Used Oil: Advice for Small Businesses I Common Wastes&Materials I US EPA Page 2 of 6 lubricants, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, buoyants, and for other similar purposes are considered used oil. Unused oil such as bottom clean-out waste from virgin fuel oil storage tanks or virgin fuel oil recovered from a spill, do not meet EPA's definition of used oil because these oils have never been "used." EPA's definition also excludes products used as cleaning agents or solely for their solvent properties, as well as certain petroleum-derived products like antifreeze and kerosene. • Contaminants -- the third criterion is based on whether or not the oil is contaminated with either physical or chemical impurities. In other words, to meet EPA's definition, used oil must become contaminated as a result of being used. This aspect of EPA's definition includes residues and contaminants generated from handling, storing, and processing used oil. Physical contaminants could include metal shavings, sawdust, or dirt. Chemical contaminants could include solvents, halogens, or saltwater. Table of What Used Oil Is and Is Not Used Oil Is:* Used Oil Is Not: �� • Synthetic oil — usually derived from Waste oil that is bottom clean-out coal, shale, or polymer-based starting waste from virgin fuel storage tanks, material. virgin fuel oil spill cleanups, or other • Engine oil -- typically includes oil wastes that have not actually gasoline and diesel engine crankcase been used. oils and piston-engine oils for Products such as antifreeze and automobiles, trucks, boats, airplanes, kerosene. locomotives, and heavy equipment. • Vegetable and animal oil, even when • Transmission fluid. used as a lubricant. • Refrigeration oil. • Petroleum distillates used as • Compressor oils. solvents. • Metalworking fluids and oils. • Laminating oils. Oils that do not meet EPA's definition of • Industrial hydraulic fluid. used oil can still pose a threat to the • Copper and aluminum wire drawing environment when disposed of and could be solution. subject to the RCRA regulations for • Electrical insulating oil. hazardous waste management. • Industrial process oils. • Oils used as buoyants. * This list does not include all types of used oil. How Is Used Oil Recycled? Once oil has been used, it can be collected, recycled, and used over and over again. An estimated 380 million gallons of used oil are recycled each year. Recycled used oil can sometimes be used again for the same job or can take on a completely different task. For example, used motor oil can be re-refined and sold at the store as motor oil or processed for furnace fuel all. Aluminum rolling oils also can be filtered on site and used over again. Used Oil Can Be Recycled in the Following Ways • Reconditioned on site, which involves removing impurities from the used oil and using it again. While this form of recycling might not restore the oil to its original condition, it does prolong its life. • Inserted into a petroleum refinery, which involves introducing used oil as a feedstock into either the front end of the process or the coker to produce gasoline and coke. • Re-refined, which involves treating used oil to remove impurities so that it can be http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/Usedoil/usedoil.htm 6/27/2012