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BEST PRACTICES
If your cafeteria generates or handles used oil, there are certain good housekeeping
practices that you should follow. The following management standards are common
sense, good business practices designed to ensure the safe handling of used oil,
to maximize recycling, and to minimize disposal.
Even when not required by environmental regulations, the following best practices
are recommended.
- Label all containers and tanks with the appropriate label depicting the
containers’ contents. Care should be taken to avoid labels that may
inappropriately denote a federal or state regulated waste.
- Keep containers and tanks in good condition. Don’t allow tanks to
rust, leak or deteriorate. Fix structural defects immediately.
- Never store used oil in anything other than tanks and storage containers.
Used oil may also be stored in units that are permitted to store regulated
hazardous waste. Tanks and containers storing used oil do not need to be RCRA
permitted, however, as long as they are labeled and in good condition.
- Take steps to prevent leaks and spills. Keep machinery, equipment containers,
and tanks in good working condition and be careful when transferring used
oil. Have sorbent materials available on site.
- If a spill or leak occurs, stop the oil from flowing at the source. If a
leak from a container or tank can’t be stopped, put the oil in another
holding container or tank.
- Contain spilled oil. For example, containment can be accomplished by erecting
sorbent berms or by spreading a sorbent over the oil and surrounding area.
- Clean up the oil and recycle the used oil, as you would have before it was
spilled. Remove, repair or replace the defective tank or container immediately.
- EPA encourages used oil generators to use a secondary containment system
to prevent used oil from contaminating the environment.
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