Coolant/sludge/oil/drain disposal -- what do you do with yours?

[Flash]

I have a sludge mix of a little oil and antifreeze. I was wondering where I can dump it. I asked PepBoys, and they told me they wouldn't. Well, if push comes to shove and I can't find a place... oh never mind. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I need places that will accept it.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

There are actually laws against pouring it down the sewer. I have heard of people running into these problems. Take it to a auto shop and they can recycle it or dispose of it properly for you.

 

[endeffect0]

pepboys and autozone both have disposal service for coolant and oil if you have one near you.

 

[steve_8475]

in the town i live in the township has a big holding container for oil that gets recycled, so i just mix up the fluid with a little old oil and they dont say anything

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

That is even worse. If there is too high of a percentage or other crap in the oil, they will refuse to take it and then you have hundreds of gallons of oil just sitting around. I think it's only like 2.5% that can be non-oil based fluids.

 

[absolute_DSM]

OSHA is all over this thread.

 

[Joey4g63]

I take mine to work and they have Castrol Dispose of Theirs.

 

[RJD2]

I just take mine to the local walmart and leave it behind the auto center next to the big oil dump things along with used oil they'll take care of it

 

[sag1441]

flush it down the toilet

 

[red_devil]

any oil change shop will do it for free.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

For some reason I just never figured coolant was that bad for the environment and didn't think much about bringing it anywhere. And now that I think about it, I've never seen anyone bring their stuff in to a shop I've been at either. Makes you think about the number of people who just dump it down the drain like I've been doing. It doesn't even have a warning on the container. I'm just going to get a dedicated coolant drain pan so I can re-use it.

 

[romeen]

Just be careful not to leave any open/exposed containers sitting around. Ethylene glycol has a sweet flavor which is appealing to children and pets and it is highly toxic.

 

[tkelly27]

We live on a lot of and and we just kinda... dump it : (

Shouldn't you be able to just toss the organic stuff?

 

[silver eclipse]

Engine coolant is actually extremely bad for the environment. What ive heard is there is a big problem with used coolant because the gonvernment cant really find a way to disopse of it properly. Mixing it with oil is worse because then they cant recycle the oil.
-Chad

 

[knight007]

of course its bad for the enviroment if you pour it on the grass the grass dies, take it to autozone or a recycle center they should take it....

 

[Defiant]

Any shop that does radiator work will be delighted to take it off your hands. They probably won't accept any that's oil-tainted, however.
Don't dump it. Anyplace.

 

[Ajax]

I work for a HAZMAT company and see if your town as a household hazard waste facility they will take your oil, antifreeze, and filters for free. Even if your oil and antifreeze is mixed but try not to its a pain to separate. And antifreeze actually gets recycled. If you have mice or rats just put it out for them works really really good just dont have any animals that you dont want to die get close to it!

 

[Spln_Hrd]

You have to have 5 times as much water as you do ethylene glycol based coolant to run it down the drain thats what we do at my shop, this is in Nebraska. But I know if EPA comes in what I am doing is prefectly legal.

I dont think OSHA gives a hoot about coolant, I understood them to want shops to have M.S.D.S.(material safety data sheets) on the chemicals in the shop, eye flushing stations and stuff like that but dont hold me to it I and not responsible for shop safety where I work, I just fix the rice grinders.

 

[Ajax]

D.O.T does ship (ethylene Glycol) as ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, LIQUID, N.O.S
UN#3082
HAZARD CLASS 9

Mixed as in antifreeze not sure

 

[silver eclipse]

I know for a fact that if EPA came to either of the shops ive worked at and saw how lazy we where with our antifreeze (not that we just poured it out, but it spills) we could have been fined. At my old shop we actually lost a few stray cats that hung around.
-Chad

 

[VanIsleDSM]

I'm not sure about the laws in the states but I can say that in Canada if you sell oil or antifreeze you must also take back used oil and antifreeze... so that makes things pretty easy... I've always just taken mine back for recycling, I would never dream of dumping it out? That's harsh..

 

[xjynxx]

I am just wanting to know if there is a web site or if any one is from north carolina around high point or the greensboro area that knows what to do with used anti freeze is there a special sewer plant that alows you to dump used coolant down the toilet or drain like in charlote area

 

[Austin06]

I'm sure any local repair shop would take it, maybe for a small fee.

 

[Ajax]

Like I said before, see if your area has a HouseHold Hazardous Waste Facility, just give the city a call and ask.

 

[xjynxx]

I have not been on for a while but I do have a pep boys down the road do they all take it and I have some engine oil lube places near me too do they all take it and is it free

 

[MyBlack94GST]

We thought we'd invite them to join us as it was better than training attack dogs.

That made me laugh