Everyday Hazmat User’s Training Guide, Page 10

Everyday Hazmat User’s Training Guide

Section I—Common USDA Forest Service Activities (continued)

Automotive and Small Engine Services (continued)

Used Oil Filters

Used oil filters are a common automotive servicing waste. If you follow a few simple rules, you can avoid regulatory concerns and ensure environmental protection. All used oil filters must be punctured and drained while hot, or crushed to remove residual used oil. Drained or crushed oil filters can be discarded in the trash, but it would be better to collect them for scrap metal recycling. This guideline provides some pointers on managing your used oil filters.

Draining Used Oil Filters

Immediately after removing a used oil filter from a vehicle, puncture the dome, drain the filter while the oil is still hot, and crush or dismantle the filter. The objective is to remove all residual used oil from the filter.

Drawing of a trash can that has a large red circle with a slash mark through the circle superimposed on top of the image.
Do NOT throw used oil filters in the trash unless
they have been properly drained.

Be sure to collect all drained used oil from the filters in your used oil collection units; see the Used Oil guideline.

Recycling Used Oil Filters

To conserve natural resources, consider recycling all used oil filters as scrap metal.

Used Oil Filter Collection

If you collect used oil filters for recycling, be sure to use a drum that will not leak, and mark the drum USED OIL FILTERS. Use secondary containment (such as a metal pan) to guard against leakage.

Batteries

Automotive lead-acid batteries are found at all USDA Forest Service units. All lead-acid batteries contain lead and sulfuric acid, both regulated by the EPA. When a lead-acid battery is spent, return it to a local vendor for recycling; if you do not return the battery to the vendor, you must treat it as a hazardous waste. Be sure to find all unusable lead-acid batteries in boneyards, around buildings, and in abandoned structures—they are an environmental hazard.

Used Lead-Acid Battery Collection Storage

When you remove a lead-acid battery from service, store it in secondary containment (such as a metal pan) in an area where it will not freeze. Unusable lead-acid batteries should be taken to a local recycler as soon as practical; you can transport them in USDA Forest Service vehicles. Mark your lead-acid battery collection area with UNIVERSAL WASTE–BATTERIES, WASTE BATTERIES, or USED BATTERIES. Be sure to store the batteries in a well-ventilated area to prevent explosive hydrogen gas from building up. Do not store or transport batteries or battery acid with flammable liquids or solids.

Discarded Lead-Acid Batteries

Make every effort to locate abandoned lead-acid batteries at your units and move them to your lead-acid battery collection area.

If you find a battery with a cracked case, you can assume that most of the acid has drained into the soil where it may become an environmental hazard.

Battery Acid and Other Batteries

Battery acid (sulfuric) is a corrosive material; be sure you follow the suggestions for storage and use contained in the Corrosives guidelines.

Image of a diamond-shaped hazard material placard that is white on the top half and black on the bottom half and reads: CORROSIVE. The number 8 is located at the bottom corner of the sign and an image signifying a hand handling chemicals sits at the top corner.

Check the MSDS of batteries that are sealed. If the MSDS indicates they do not contain hazardous materials, you can throw them in the trash.

Tire Changes

Used tires can be found in many USDA Forest Service boneyards. Used tires present a health concern because they can be a breeding ground for insects. Large quantities of tires present a fire hazard. Check with your local fire marshal for specific local regulations. This guideline offers a few suggestions.

Used Tire Collection

When you remove tires from a vehicle, store them inside a structure, or cover them to prevent rainwater from providing a place where mosquitoes can breed. Recycle the tires when it is cost effective to do so. You may have to pay a small recycling fee per tire, but it is better to recycle the tires than to discard them in the landfill or keep them in your boneyard.

Discarded Used Tires

Make every effort to locate discarded tires at your units. Move them to a designated collection area and recycle them as soon as practical.

Antifreeze

Sometimes antifreeze is removed from vehicles and other winterized water systems. This antifreeze could be a regulated waste, so handle it properly to ensure the safety of workers and wildlife. Animals find antifreeze very tasty, but it is DEADLY. This guideline contains some tips on managing used antifreeze.

Used Antifreeze Collection and Storage

When you remove antifreeze from a vehicle, the antifreeze may be hazardous because of the heavy metals it has picked up during use. Consider using an antifreeze recycling unit and returning the antifreeze to service. In this case, only the filter in the recycling unit is a hazardous waste.

If you cannot justify an onsite antifreeze recycling unit, collect your used antifreeze in a sound drum, securely closed at all times (except when adding or removing used antifreeze). Label the drum USED ANTIFREEZE FOR RECYCLING. Use secondary containment (such as placing the drum in a metal pan) to prevent leakage.

Drawing of a trash can that has a large red circle with a slash mark through the circle superimposed on top of the image.
Do NOT throw used antifreeze in the trash
or pour it on the ground or into a sewer.

Used Antifreeze Recycling

Recycling is the best management practice for your used antifreeze. Do not mix used antifreeze with other waste products. Use a licensed recycler. Keep all transportation information, including dates, amounts, transporter, and the EPA identification numbers of the recycler. If you treat your used antifreeze as a hazardous waste, see the Hazardous Wastes guideline.

Drawing of a checklist and a record keeping form used for recycling used antifreeze.
Sample checklist and recordkeeping form for
recycling used antifreeze. See the appendix.

Ethylene Glycol or Propylene Glycol?

Propylene glycol is a less toxic replacement for traditional ethylene glycol antifreeze. Neither type of antifreeze is considered hazardous until it has been used. Both types can become hazardous after use. Treat both types of antifreeze the same, but do not mix them.

Degreasing

Degreasing units and solvents are found in many USDA Forest Service units to support automotive activities, chain saw maintenance, and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile servicing. Many degreasing solvents are flammable liquids in use and a hazardous waste when being disposed. There are many options that may improve worker safety and eliminate regulatory obligations.

Eliminating Hazardous Degreasing Solvents

Many degreasing systems are available that can totally eliminate regulatory concerns. Some of these systems use products that are not flammable and do not contain regulated constituents, some are aqueous solutions, and some use one or more inline filter stages to extend useful degreasing life.

Select a system that is nonhazardous when the solvent is used and when it becomes a waste. Check the MSDS before purchasing, and talk to other USDA Forest Service units that use these new alternatives.

When evaluating costs, consider the total life-cycle cost rather than just the product cost. Take into account the useful life span of the degreaser—the new ones almost always have much longer useful lives.

Image of an Environmental Protection Agency Hazardous Waste Manifest form.
EPA Hazardous Waste Manifest
(EPA Form 8700-22)
(multicopy form)
You may need to use this form
for hazardous degreasing solvents
picked up by a service provider.
See section II.

Some Management Tips

Never use gasoline as a degreaser, because it is flammable and contains toxic ingredients.
Do not evaporate used solvents to dispose of them.
Be sure to mark your degreasing sinks with the solvent health hazards information.
Do not use open cans for cleaning parts.
Keep lids closed on parts washers.