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Regulations BACK to VIRTUAL TOUR 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:
This fact sheet will tell you what you need to do to avoid problems with fluids. 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 and your recycler allows it. 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 which are a hazardous waste. For management and disposal/recycle of contaminated brake fluid, you must determine if the fluids are hazardous waste by either:
If it is hazardous, then the hazardous waste rules apply. See the ECAR Hazardous Waste Fact Sheet. If not, then manage as liquid industrial waste and have it shipped off-site for disposal by a permitted and registered liquid industrial waste hauler. Links to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to used fluid management. Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Act 451), Part 111 regarding Hazardous Waste and administrative rules Federal EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste Federal EPA Standards for Used Oil 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.
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. See also the BMPs for Used Oil.
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