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Used Oils

Used oils are divided into two categories:
- So-called clear oils, of industrial origin and little deteriorated in use, which can easily be regenerated through a simple purification process (filtering and/or centrifugation).
- So-called dark oils, mainly originating from automotive lubrication, which have been subject to severe thermal and mechanical conditions, under which they have been loaded with metals and combustion residues and oxidized.
Neither of these oils should be confused with used soluble oils and other aqueous machining fluids, or vegetable frying oils, or water-hydrocarbon mixtures for which entirely different methods for collection and disposal are used.

Are used oils hazardous for the environment?

Used oils are only slightly biodegradable; their disposal in the natural environment is therefore hazardous for natural systems. Example: used oils thrown into any waterbody will reduce the amount of oxygen available for the flora and fauna.

 

 

 

 

What Must NOT be done with used oils:

  • Never throw used oils in waste traps, waste fills, gutters or drains,
  • Never use them as a weed-killer,
  • Never use them for protecting woodwork,
  • Never use them as heating fuels.

How should you store your used oils?

Leakproof facilities should be available for storing your used oils while awaiting their collection. These facilities should be easily accessible to vehicles responsible for collecting these oils.

 

 

 

 

How do you get your used oil collected?

You should hand over used oils to:

  • An approved recycler,
  • Or to an approved waste recycling centre,
  • Or to an approved final disposal agent.

 

Volume < 600 litres: waste recycling centres with specialized storage containers will take on the collection of your waste oils.

Volume 600 litres: the simplest solution is to call an approved recycler who can come and collect your waste oils.

As soon as your stock of used oils has reached 600 litres, these companies will come to your site within a maximum of 15 days after your call.

If you regularly have large volumes of used oils for disposal (eg. more than 20 cubic metres at a time) the best solution is to call an approved final disposal agent to make arrangements to have your waste oils directly transported from your site to the final disposal site nearest to you.

 

How can I reduce the volumes of used oils I produce?

The lubricant quality is highly related to the volume of used oils that is generated. Accordingly, Total Lubricants has developed high quality lube oils which provide longer periods between oil changes, and so an actual reduction in the production of waste oil.

 

What happens to used oils after collection?

Used oils, after collection, may follow different routes for their treatment:

  • Clear used oils are mainly recycled
  • Dark used oils are either regenerated, or incinerated in cement works, or burned in specialized centres (for energy recovery).