ECAR
Fact Sheet for New Jersey
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.
But
in order to encourage recycling, the State of New Jersey will give
you a break and exempt you from the burden of handling it according
to the usual hazardous waste rules if you manage it properly.
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
Waste
Classification. In
New Jersey, antifreeze is considered a "Class D" material if is
being sent for recycling. If the antifreeze is being disposed of,
it is considered a non-hazardous ID 72 liquid.
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 septic tanks, dry wells
or to the outdoors. It is recommended that used antifreeze
be collected for recycling/reclamation. However, some localities
permit discharge of small amounts through the municipal wastewater
treatment system (you must check with your local water treatment
authorities).
Due
to its composition, used antifreeze can be considered a hazardous
waste. However, if used antifreeze is recycled, it doesn't need
to be treated as hazardous waste. It may be recycled by reuse, distillation,
filtration, or ion exchange. Recycling can be done on-site or off-site
by an antifreeze recycling service (see link under Other Related
Resources below).
Used
antifreeze that is not recycled and therefore, disposed of, must
be handled in one of two ways:
- 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 or discharged
to a municipal wastewater treatment system. You must check with
your local water treatment authorities and a permit may be required).
If it is hazardous, then special hazardous waste rules apply.
- 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.
Storage
and Labeling. Store antifreeze in closed containers
on an impermeable concrete surface with spill controls. Consider
keeping antifreeze in two separate, closed containers: one for antifreeze
that cannot be reused marked “Waste Antifreeze Only,” and one marked
“Usable Antifreeze Only.”
Spills. Clean up all spills right
away. Keep spill control equipment in a central location, accessible
to all employees. Report all chemical spills that occur within the
State of New Jersey to the 24-Hour Hotline at 1-877*-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).
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.
Record
Keeping. Keep all receipts of used antifreeze
shipments and filter management. The written receipts or records
must include:
- Name and address of the generator and the recycling
facility for off-site shipments.
- The amount of used antifreeze shipped or recycled on-site.
- The amount of waste antifreeze filters shipped off-site.
- Date of shipment or recycling.
Generators
should obtain the Bill of Lading or the Non-Hazardous Waste Manifest
from their transporter, and keep this on file for at least three
years.
Links
to the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to used antifreeze
management.
New Jersey Hazardous
Waste Regulations
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.
- 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.
- Are
antifreeze storage containers and tanks properly labeled? All waste antifreeze should be labeled
“Waste Antifreeze Only,” and antifreeze that can be recycled or
reused, should be marked “Usable Antifreeze Only.”
- 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 DEP within
15 minutes.
- Is
used antifreeze transported to a recovery facility by a certified
transporter? Check your records and verify that
all shipments of used antifreeze were removed from your property
by a state registered transporter.
- 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
- For more information, contact
the New Jersey Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste at
609-292-8341.
- To report a spill or leak, or
to report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the
NJDEP
24-Hour Hotline at 1-877*-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
- Hazardous Wastes
Other
Related Resources
- NJ
DEP Guidance Document for Antifreeze Recycling
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