ECAR Fact Sheet for Nebraska
Antifreeze

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

Used antifreeze, through contact with a car’s cooling system, may contain traces of fuel, oil and metal particles (including lead), making it a possible hazardous waste. If not properly managed and stored, these pollutants can seep into soil and groundwater harming people and the environment.

This fact sheet will tell you:

• How to handle antifreeze to qualify for the exemption.
• What you need to do if you do not qualify in order to manage antifreeze in compliance with hazardous waste rules.

Regulations

Antifreeze accumulated for any time on site is considered a solid waste and a waste determination must be done. If spent antifreeze is a hazardous waste, the amount generated in a calendar month counts toward your generator status. However, if the antifreeze is sent immediately to a recycling machine, then the waste does not come under hazardous waste regulations.

Waste Classification. Antifreeze is made up using some regulated chemicals including ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. During use, antifreeze can become contaminated with traces of fuel or metal particles. Used antifreeze should never be disposed of down storm drains or surface waters. It is illegal and dangerous to discharge antifreeze to sewer systems, septic tanks, dry wells or to the outdoors.

Due to its composition, used antifreeze can be considered a hazardous waste. Consider recovering antifreeze either on-site or off-site. Units are available that chemically restore ethylene glycol by removing impurities and neutralizing organic acids formed as breakdown products in the coolant. Commercial services are also available that recycle antifreeze. If you recycle on site, filters and sludge produced from recycling may be hazardous. Therefore, you will need to determine if these are are hazardous wastes.

Used antifreeze that is not recycled and therefore, disposed of, must be handled in one of two ways:

1. Have a sample of the used antifreeze 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.
2. Assume that the antifreeze is hazardous and manage it as such. This approach avoids laboratory testing costs.

See the ECAR Hazardous Waste fact sheet for details about storing, handling, and shipping of hazardous wastes.

Antifreeze that is hazardous waste. If your spent antifreeze is hazardous waste, and you are either a Small or Large Quantity Generator, you must keep hazardous waste manifests and land disposal restriction (LDR copies). Other LDR notification requirements may also be applicable.

Spills. Clean up all spills right away. Keep spill control equipment in a central location, accessible to all employees. All chemical spills must be reported to the NDEQ spill hotline at 402-471-2186, or 402-471-4545 (weeknights, weekends and holidays).

Filter Management. Waste antifreeze filters and particulate generated from recycling antifreeze also must be managed as hazardous waste or proven that they are non-hazardous through laboratory analysis. See the ECAR Hazardous Waste fact sheet for additional information.

Links to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to used antifreeze management.

Nebraska’s Hazardous Waste Management Requirements

Federal EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

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 antifreeze storage areas and management procedures.

1. Is used antifreeze stored in drums, tanks or other containers that are in good condition? Open containers, and rusting or leaking containers cannot be used for antifreeze storage.
2. Are antifreeze storage containers and tanks properly labeled? All waste antifreeze should be labeled "Spent Antifreeze Only."
3. Is the area around the used antifreeze storage containers free of releases? Releases must be stopped; the released material cleaned up and managed properly and reported to NDEQ.
4. Is used antifreeze transported to a recovery facility by a valid transporter? If the spent antifreeze is shipped out as hazardous waste by a Small or Large Quantity Generator to a recovery facility, then the transporter must have a valid hazardous waste transporter number. DOT requirements also apply.
5. Is oil, solvent or other materials mixed with used antifreeze? Verify that there are separate, clearly labeled containers for each type of material, and that used antifreeze is not mixed with used oil, solvents and other materials.

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 used antifreeze storage areas and management procedures.

• Use separate equipment for the collection of used antifreeze (funnels, pads, storage containers).
• Drain antifreeze from radiators and heater cores as soon as possible.
• Keep waste antifreeze free from cross-contamination with other wastes, including used oil, fuels, degreasers or radiator flush chemicals.
• Determine if the antifreeze is waste fluid or reusable and can be recycled.
• Recycle by reuse, distillation, filtration or ion exchange. Recycling can be done on-site or off-site by an antifreeze recycling service.
• Consider keeping antifreeze in two separate, closed containers: one for antifreeze that cannot be reused marked "Waste Antifreeze," and one marked "Usable Antifreeze."
• Do not dispose of antifreeze down storm drains, in septic tanks, dry wells or on bare ground.
• Keep any records relating to used antifreeze for at least 3 years. This includes receipts for used antifreeze shipments and any laboratory results.

Contacts

1. For more information, contact the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) Waste Management Program at 402-471-2186.
2. To report a spill or leak, call the NDEQ spill hotline at 402-471-2186, or 402-471-4545 (weeknights, weekends and holidays).
3. To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the nearest NDEQ Regional Office.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

1. Hazardous Wastes

Other Related Resources

1. Nebraska’s Hazardous Waste Service Providers Directory

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