used motor oil becomes toxic waste

This morning I had to go to the local auto parts store and decided to take along a 5 gallon can containing about 2 gallons of used motor oil to pour into the recycle barrel. My can originally contained new motor oil. The counter guy absolutely refused to allow me to pour my used motor oil in with the other used motor oil. The reason? My container is not an approved toxic waste container. But they do have the approved containers for sale!

I asked if I bought an approved container and poured my oil into it, would I then be allowed to pour this same oil into the recycle barrel? Yes, of course.

Just when I thought the laws in HaHafornia couldn't get any stupider.

Reply to
The old Millrat
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I'd have dropped (placed) the entire container on his counter, smiled and wished him good day...

Rob

Reply to
Rob Stokes

Wed, Jul 23, 2003, 8:19pm (EDT-3) snipped-for-privacy@sbcglobal.net (The=A0old=A0Millrat) says: This morning I had to go to the local auto parts store and decided to take along a 5 gallon can containing about 2 gallons of used motor oil

No prob. Just keep it, and use it on various projects. I would strain it first tho. I'm looking for a 35-55 gal barrel, with a spout, myself. Then strain it as it's poured in. Paint it on bare metal, to keep it from rusting, if nothing else.

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JOAT Always put off until tomorrow something which, tomorrow, you could put off until, let's say, next year.

- Lady Myria LeJean.

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 23 Jul 2003. Some tunes I like.

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Reply to
Jack-of-all-trades - JOAT

I am SO glad to be out of that state! Don't forget such other goodies as smog inspecting new cars every other year while 1971 smog-belchers are exempt! (BTW-This law is also referred to as the "auto mechanics full employment act".)

Another gem: I lived in San Jose and the local newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News, reported on the water cleanliness laws there regarding what is allowable to dump down the drain of your sink (sounds like strict laws would be a GOOD thing, right?). Turns out that the DRINKING WATER coming OUT of your faucet DOESN'T meet the cleanliness requirements to go DOWN your sink drain. So, technically you are breaking the law every time you turn on the faucet and allow any water down the drain.

Oh yes, also, in the workplace if you remove a Band-Aid from your finger make sure you don't throw it in the wastebasket. That is "biohazardous waste" and must go in an approved and appropriately marked container and disposed of "properly".

Reply to
George

Is it legal to have mercury in a news paper? It could end up in the water supply.

Reply to
RPRESHONG

Thu, Jul 24, 2003, 1:12am snipped-for-privacy@nowhere.com (George) says: I am SO glad to be out of that state! Don't forget such other goodies as smog inspecting new cars every other year while 1971 smog-belchers are exempt!

However. Few 1971 vehicles would be daily drivers. The vast majority, if not all, of them are probably restored, well tuned, and only driven maybe once a week, and probably very few miles a year.

JOAT Always put off until tomorrow something which, tomorrow, you could put off until, let's say, next year.

- Lady Myria LeJean.

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 23 Jul 2003. Some tunes I like.

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Reply to
Jack-of-all-trades - JOAT

Reminds me of how many times I said, when in the service "there's no good reason for it, it's just a regulation...."

Someone's career was made on writing in that "approved container" language, you can bet. I know that the number of septic sucker places around here went way down when they had to get their trucks licensed as toxic waste haulers.

Reply to
George

The container(s) the new oil came in is usually an approved container.

Here in CT, many places won't accept used oil if they think the oil or the container it's in are contaminated with other chemicals.

Barry

Reply to
B a r r y B u r k e J r .

Barry Burke notes:

WTF do they think happens to the acids from the engine the motor oil has been used to protect? Or do they not consider those chemicals?

Charlie Self

"If our democracy is to flourish, it must have criticism; if our government is to function it must have dissent." Henry Commager

Reply to
Charlie Self

At least here in Mary-Land...1978 and older cars are exempt... .. BUT seriously I collect (and drive) older cars... The total "garbage" I put in the air driving any of them is a hell of a lot less then the amount of garbage my lawn tractor spits out in any given year...with the wet spring and the number of times I have had to cut the grass this year my lawn tractor is going to really add some pollutants to the air...(at least I can hope the wind is blowing to the South East....towards Washington DC ( Congress). not wishing any ill effects on the residents of that city who do not even have any voting rights in congress. . Back to the oil.... My dad used to dump his old oil along the foundation to our house.. and then poured a little inside the car doors etc...(he never had a rocker panel rust out so do not laugh...)... Well things have progressed in the last 50 or so years and that solution has not been available (legally) for years

AND I change the oil in my old cars every 500 miles, filters every 1000 miles ...but not less then twice a year if the cars do not get driven

500 miles... for years I dumped the oil at our local gas station ..today I drive 30 miles to a certified disposal facility because no service station wants to deal with the EPA regulations... not really that much of a problem... and I still do not have a termite problem and today's cars have much better rust protection

Bob Griffiths

Reply to
Bob G.

This provoked me to pipe my grill to my house-wide LP gas system. Works fine.

I bet those guys don't 'overfill' my 300 gallon tank once a year...

Reply to
Terry King

Call the city to find out who will take used oil. I use an empty plastic milk jug and there are four stations in my small town who take the oil. I patronize these stations and buy gasoline there, yet they sell the used oil to be recycled and refined. That counter guy you encountered is an idiot.

Reply to
Phisherman

Here in Tennessee we pay a special tax on each quart of oil sold, specifically for the recycling. What they should do is reimburse customers to return the oil, but instead some people pour it into the street or creek. California is very conservative when it comes to environment issues, and that's really a good thing.

Reply to
Phisherman

I do have a NG outlet at the Barbie, but I really don't want to spend a minimum of $500 for a new NG BBQ, and the conversion routines for LP to NG I have looked at on the web indicate the drilling out of the orifices is a one way operation. One of these days when I have the spare $500 as a backup, I'll try the conversion routine.

-Doug

Reply to
Doug Winterburn

The orfices on mine are screw-in brass type; they could'nt be too expensive as a replacement part...

Reply to
Terry King

Kinda like the old deposit on Coke bottles? Not a bad idea.

Jums

Reply to
Jim Mc Namara

don't bet on that. not much rain out that way. here in phoenix, you see

1970's vw bugs in perfect condition being used daily, that haven't been restored.
Reply to
Charlie Spitzer

Mine too, but I'll be damned if I can find anyplace to buy them. They aren't listed in the available parts on the BBQ makers web site.

-Doug

Reply to
Doug Winterburn

If you read the California laws concerning used oil recycling you'll find:

  1. If an outlet sells oil they have to accept the old oil.
  2. The container only has to be clean.
  3. The oil must be free of contaminates other than those considered normal.
  4. If you return the oil to a state "approved" oil recycling center, if requested, they have to pay you for the used oil at the state mandated rate.

See:

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you wanted to pursue the issue it looks like you could have the store's hand slapped by the state for violations.

-- Jack Novak Buffalo, NY - USA

Reply to
Nova

Thu, Jul 24, 2003, 10:32am (EDT-3) snipped-for-privacy@nospam.stratus.com (Charlie=A0Spitzer) says: don't bet on that. not much rain out that way. here in phoenix, you see

1970's vw bugs in perfect condition being used daily, that haven't been restored.

Ah, but you have to make an exception for VW Bugs - the real Bugs, not these new ones they call Bugs. You see a number of them around here too, mostly unrestored, daily drivers.

JOAT Always put off until tomorrow something which, tomorrow, you could put off until, let's say, next year.

- Lady Myria LeJean.

Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 23 Jul 2003. Some tunes I like.

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Reply to
Jack-of-all-trades - JOAT

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