Used oil - California

Scope

Under many circumstances, used oil is a hazardous waste and must be managed as such if it is to be disposed of. However, EPA’s used oil management program allows the handling of used oil under less stringent standards as long as it is managed according to the regulations and the oil is ultimately sent to a recycler, recycled, or burned for fuel.

Regulatory citations

• 22 CCR Chapter 12, 66262.10 - 66262.89
• 22 CCR Chapter 29, 66279.1 - 67100

Key definitions

• Recycled oil: Any oil, in liquid form, produced from used oil, which has been prepared for reuse, which achieves the minimum standards of purity set forth in Health and Safety Code sections 25250.1(a)(3)(B) and 25250.1(b)(1).
• Secondary containment: A backup system designed to prevent the release and migration of wastes or accumulated liquids out of a storage tank or a storage tank system.
• Synthetic oil: Oil derived from coal, oil shale, or polymers, and water-soluble petroleum-based oils. Vegetable or animal oil used as a lubricant, hydraulic fluid, heat transfer fluid or for other similar industrial purposes shall be managed as used oil if it is identified as a non-RCRA hazardous waste. Used vegetable or animal oil identified as RCRA hazardous waste is not used oil.
• Used oil: Any oil that has been refined from crude oil or any synthetic oil that has been used and as a result of such use is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. The definition does not include products used as cleaning agency or used solely for their solvent properties along with certain petroleum-derived products such as antifreeze and kerosene.
• Used oil collection center means:
  • A used oil collection center defined in Public Resources Code section 48622; or
  • A recycle-only household hazardous waste collection facility as defined in Health and Safety Code section 25218.1(n); or
  • A household hazardous waste collection facility as defined in Health and Safety Code section 25218.1(f) and operating pursuant to a permit by rule; or
  • A collection facility operating pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 25250.11.

Summary of requirements

California’s state requirements regarding used oil management include some regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:

• Used oil generators must obtain an EPA ID Number. (Federally, only used oil transporters, processors and re-refiners, off-specification burners, and used oil marketers must obtain an EPA ID number.)
• Businesses generating used oil as well as used oil collection centers must meet all hazardous waste generator requirements operating.
• Containers accumulating used oil must be labeled with the name and address of the generator and the words “Used Oil,” and “Hazardous Waste,” and the initial date of accumulation. 
• Tanks used to accumulate used oil must have appropriate secondary containment.
• Aboveground storage tanks and fill pipes used to transfer used oil into underground storage tanks must be labeled with the words “Used Oil,” Hazardous Waste,” and the initial date of accumulation. Containers must also be labeled with the name and address of the generator.
• To ship individual containers of used oil:
  • The generator must label shipped containers with:
    • HAZARDOUS WASTE – State and Federal Law Prohibit Improper Disposal. If found, contact the nearest police or public safety authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Department of Health Services
    • Generator’s name and address
    • Proper Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping name
    • Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest number and the shipping identification number (if an individual manifest is used)
• Generators that do not transport their own used oil must use a hazardous waste manifest.
• Used oil may not be intentionally mixed with a hazardous waste, even hazardous waste from a conditionally exempt small quantity generator (aka very small quantity generator).