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ECAR Fact Sheet for Indiana
Brake
Fluid

Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources
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The
following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once
prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process
with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check
on the status of the review process here.
Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried
to present a summary of the essential information on this topic,
you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations,
may apply to you.
What You Need to Know
Brake fluids
are not inherently hazardous, but if they contain certain additives,
or if they have become contaminated with brake cleaner or other
solvents, they can fall under the hazardous waste rules.
You can avoid
the burden of treating brake fluid as a hazardous waste:
- If you do not contaminate it with other fluids, and
- If you handle and store it properly, and recycle it
with your used oil.
This fact sheet
will tell you what you need to do to avoid problems with fluids.
The Indiana
Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has prepared a guidance
document to help auto recyclers manage fluids. Much of that information
is included in the fact sheet below. You can access the link to
IDEM's Compliance Manual for Auto Salvage Facilities under Other
Relevant Resources.
Regulations
In the State
of Indiana, brake fluids are
considered used oil and can be combined with your used oil as long
as they don't contain any solvents, brake cleaners or carburetor
cleaners. See ECAR Used Oil fact sheet. Remember, brake fluid contaminated with any
of these materials could cause your used oil to become hazardous.
If your operation still uses brake cleaners in aerosol cans, chances
are they may contain chlorinated solvents that are a hazardous waste.
For management
and disposal/recycle of contaminated brake fluid, you must:
- Have a sample of the used fluid analyzed by a laboratory
to find out if it is hazardous. If it is non-hazardous, it can
be shipped off-site for disposal by a licensed hauler. If it is
hazardous, then special hazardous waste rules apply.
- Assume that the fluid is hazardous and manage and dispose/recycle
it as such. This approach avoids laboratory testing costs.
Links to
the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to hazardous
waste determinations and management.
Indiana Used Oil Management
Regulations (Article 13)
Federal
EPA Used Oil Management Requirements
Self-Audit
Checklist
When an inspector
comes to your facility, there are certain things he or she checks
to see if you are in compliance with environmental regulations.
It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit"
and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties.
Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits
(see Audit
Policy Page).
Use the following
list to audit your used brake fluid management procedures.
- Is your brake fluid free from solvents, brake
cleaners or carb cleaners? If the brake fluid has not been contaminated with such
elements it can be recycled with your used oil.
- Used brake fluid is potentially a hazardous waste.
Verify
that contaminated brake fluid was properly managed and disposed/recycled
as hazardous waste or that a hazardous waste determination was
made that indicates it is a non-hazardous waste. If not contaminated,
brake fluids can be combined with your used oil.
Best
Management Practices (BMPs)
Most regulations
tell you what you have to do to be in compliance, but they don't
explain how to do it. That's where "best management practices"
come into play. BMPs are proven methods that help you to get into
compliance and stay there. The following BMPs are recommended for
brake fluid storage areas and management procedures.
- Manage brake fluid in a manner similar to used
oil.
- Collect uncontaminated brake fluid in your container
labeled "Used Oil."
- Recycle uncontaminated brake fluid as used oil.
- Identify a waste management company that will
recycle contaminated brake fluid.
- Don't pour brake fluid down any drain or on the
ground.
- Don't spray brake cleaner around brake fluid.
Contacts
- For more information, contact the
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) at 800-451-6027
or 317-232-8603.
- Report spills and environmental
emergencies immediately to IDEM by telephone at 1-888-233-7745.
- Submit a pollution complaint online
through the IDEM Pollution
Complaints Clearinghouse.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
- Hazardous Waste
- Used Oil
Other
Relevant Resources
- Indiana Used Oil Filter Guidance
Document
- Indiana Auto Salvage Program Website
- Indiana Auto Salvage Compliance Manual
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