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ECAR Fact Sheet
for Utah
Used Oil Filters
Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources
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
Used oil filters are recyclable because they are made of steel, North America's number one recycled material. They are being recycled today into new steel products, such as cans, cars, appliances and construction materials. Recycling all the filters sold annually in the United States would result in the recovery of about 160,000 tons of steel, or enough steel to make 16 new stadiums the size of Atlanta's Olympic Stadium.
Improper disposal of oil and oil filters can contaminate soil, surface water, and drinking water. Before it is drained, an oil filter can contain 2 to 13 ounces of used oil.
To dispose of used oil filters, you need to drain out the used oil thoroughly first. The oil can then be handled with the rest of your used oil (see the ECAR Used Oil Fact Sheet). If correct management procedures are followed, used oil filters can be either recycled or disposed of. However, recycling is the better choice.
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has prepared a guidance document to help auto recyclers manage used oil filters. Much of that information is included in the fact sheet below. You can access the link to the DEQ's Oil Filter Pollution Prevention fact sheet under Other Relevant Resources.
Used oil filters may be excluded from hazardous waste regulations provided three criteria are met:
- The filters must be non-terne plated. Terne is a tin/lead alloy historically used to cover the interior of oil filters. The lead content of the plating material may cause the filters to exhibit a hazardous waste characteristic.
- The filters must not be mixed with hazardous waste since mixtures of solid waste and hazardous waste are regulated as hazardous waste.
- The
filters must be gravity hot drained using one of the following
methods:
- Puncturing the anti-drainback valve or dome;
- Crushing;
- Dismantling; or
- Using any other equivalent method that will remove oil from the filter.
If an oil filter is picked up by hand or lifted by machinery and used oil immediately drips or runs from the filter, the filter should not be considered drained.
Proper procedures for draining oil filters.
- If necessary, use a filter wrench to loosen the old oil filter. Carefully remove it without spilling oil.
- Puncture a hole in the dome of the filter or through the antidrain back valve with a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver. (This breaks the vacuum and allows the trapped oil to drain out of the filter).
- Turn the filter upside down in a used oil collection container, such as a drip pan. Drain as much oil as possible from the filter. For best results, drain used oil filters for a minimum of 12 hours at an approximate temperature of 72 degrees F. or higher.
- Use a funnel or carefully pour the used oil from the drip pan into a clean container appropriate for recycling the oil.
- If the oil filter cannot be recycled, due to a lack of available filter recycling sites, seal it in a plastic zipper bag, coffee can with lid or other leak-proof container and place in the trash.
Used oil filters that are not drained by the above methods must be managed as hazardous waste. Fuel filters also are considered hazardous waste and must be managed accordingly.
Disposal. If the oil filter cannot be recycled, due to a lack of available filter recycling sites, seal it in a plastic zipper bag, coffee can with lid or other leak-proof container and place in the trash.
Spill Control. If an oil spill occurs as a result of draining or handling used oil filters, you must perform the following cleanup steps:
- Stop the release;
- Contain the released used oil;
- Clean up and properly manage the released used oil and other materials; and
- If necessary, repair or replace any leaking used oil storage containers or tanks prior to returning them to service.
- Notify the DEQ spill hotline at 801-536-4123, or access the DEQ Spill Report Website for more detailed reporting information.
Links to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to used oil filter management.
Utah's Used Oil Management Requirements
Federal EPA Used Oil Management Requirement
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 oil filter management procedures.
- Has the used oil been properly removed? If proper drainage procedures were followed, used oil filters can be disposed of or recycled.
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 oil filter management.
- Crush or puncture the dome or anti-drain valve and hot drain the filter.
- Collect oil from filter crushing and manage it the same way as engine waste oils.
- Store drained and crushed filters in a leak-proof container marked "Used Oil Filters," until recycled or disposed of.
- Recycle drained and crushed filters with an oil filter recycler.
- Maintain disposal/recycling receipts for at least 3 years.
- Used oil filters from a CFC refrigerant recovery system are to be treated as hazardous waste because they contain oil contaminated with the halogen, chlorine. Therefore, they must be kept separate from other used oil filters for disposal.
- For more information, contact the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste at 801-538-6170.
- To report a spill or leak, call the DEQ spill hotline at 801-536-4123, or access the DEQ Spill Report Website for more detailed reporting information.
- To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the DEQ Offices.
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