Cleaning Up Oil
Hello - My company has always used oil dry (sometimes referred to as kitty litter) to clean up any amount of oil that spills. Sometimes I notice a decent amount of used absorbent in our trash cans. The environmental side of things is not my area of expertise. I'm wondering if this is something we should regulate? Should we use absorbent socks for larger amounts and ring them out into a barrel? Need some guidance please. Thanks!
Comments (11)
Hello, used oil should always be managed in accordance with the EPA used oil standard. Spilled oil mixed with absorbants should be managed as a solid waste and appropriately disposed of in accordance with your state unless the oil exhibits a characteristic of hazardous then it would need to be profiled and disposed of as a hazardous waste. You can a get a specific compactor to ring the absorbants out, however the recovered oil would be considered a solid waste and not subject to used oil since it was spilled
A link to Wisconsin resources related to oil is below:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Recycling/oil.html
I'd manage it under the "Used Oil" family. See if you can get in touch with a local Safety Kleen rep - https://www.safety-kleen.com/ - they will help you profile it and pick it up for you (though disposal will be more expensive than what you're used to). This waste should definitely be segregated from the municipal garbage.
If a regulator saw those in the municipal trash can it could turn into a fine.