ECAR
Fact Sheet for Tennessee
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
Antifreeze
can pollute groundwater, surface water and drinking water supplies
if dumped, spilled or leaked, and is a serious health hazard to
humans or animals if ingested. While in an engine, antifreeze can
become contaminated with lead or fuel to the point where it must
be managed as a hazardous waste. There are two types of antifreeze:
Antifreeze with ethylene glycol, a greenish-yellow, odorless, sweet-tasting
chemical which poses a serious health hazard to humans and animals
if ingested, and antifreeze with propylene glycol which is less
toxic.
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 benzene
and lead. 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.
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. Recycling can be done on-site
or off-site by an antifreeze recycling service. A link to permitted
antifreeze transporters is listed below under Other Related Resources.
If
you recycle on-site, filters and sludges produced from recycling
may be hazardous. Therefore, you will need to determine if these
wastes are hazardous.
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. All chemical spills that occur within the State of
Tennessee must be reported to the Tennesse State Emergency Operations
Center by calling 800-262-3300.
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.
Links
to the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to used antifreeze
management.
Tennessee
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.
- 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 the TDEC.
- 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
certified 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 Tennessee Division
of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management at 615-532-0780.
- To report a spill or leak, call the Tennessee State
Emergency Operations Center 24-hour hotline at 800-262-3300, or
the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.
- To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact
the nearest regional office.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
- Hazardous
Wastes
Other
Related Resources
- Tennessee - Used Antifreeze Disposal and Recycling
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