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A wide variety of businesses handle used oil, from service stations to vehicle rental companies to manufacturing facilities. Federal EPA’s used oil management standards are a set of “good housekeeping” requirements for used oil handlers. State regulations governing the management of used oil may be more stringent than federal EPA’s.
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
Key definitions
- Special waste: Any potentially infectious medical waste, hazardous waste, pollution control waste or industrial process waste. The regulations which govern the proper generation, hauling and manifesting for special wastes may be found in 35 Ill Adm. Code Subtitle G: Waste Disposal.
- Used oil: Any oil that has been refined from crude oil, used and, as a result of such use, is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. Used oil is a special, non-hazardous waste. Special waste requires transportation by a permitted special waste hauler and shipment under a manifest.
Summary of requirements
Illinois’ state requirements regarding used oil management include some regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- On-site storage of used oil shall not exceed one year.
- Generators must store used oil in tanks, containers, or RCRA-permitted units.
- Used oil burners must conduct an analysis showing the used oil is non-hazardous and notify USEPA of the generator’s used oil management activities and obtain and EPA identification number and keep a copy of each manifest for three years. However, generators of on-specification used oil need only comply with the oil analysis requirement and a record of the facility receiving the used oil and the quantity of used oil shipped.
- Transporters of used oil within Illinois of any special waste to be stored or treated in Illinois must have a current, valid waste hauling permit issued by the IEPA with exceptions for:
- Any person who generates less than 220 pounds of special waste in a calendar month;
- Any person who hauls only special waste generated by a person who generates less than 200 pounds of special waste in a calendar month; or
- On-specification used oil being shipped directly to a used oil burner, provided the transporter complies with the recordkeeping requirements of 35 Ill. Ad. Code 739.146.
- Any person who delivers used oil to a permitted special waste hauler shall complete a manifest to accompany the used oil from initial delivery to the final destination of the used oil. Exceptions include generators who generate less than 220 pounds of special waste in a calendar month and on-specification used oil being shipped directly to a used oil burner.