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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
- Used oil: Any oil which has been refined from crude oil or synthetic oil and, as a result of use, storage, or handling, has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or loss of original properties, but which may be suitable for further use and is economically recyclable.
Summary of requirements
North Carolina state requirements regarding used oil management include some regulatory information beyond the federal requirements. A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- No person may knowingly:
- Collect, transport, store, recycle, use, or dispose of used oil in any manner which endangers the public health or welfare.
- Discharge used oil into sewers, drainage systems, septic tanks, surface waters, groundwaters, watercourses, or marine waters.
- Dispose of used oil in landfills in the State unless such disposal has been approved by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
- Mix used oil with solid waste that is to be disposed of in landfills.
- Mix used oil with hazardous substances that make it unsuitable for recycling or beneficial use.
- Used oil transporters must be certified according to the regulations at 130A-309.23.
- Used oil recycling facilities must obtain a permit per the regulations at 130A-309.24.