How Do I Dispose of Used Antifreeze?

The Office of Compliance Fact Sheet Series

What Is Antifreeze?

Antifreeze, or coolant, is used as freeze protection and as a heat transfer medium for motor vehicles, heavy equipment, and buildings. The most common type is made of ethylene glycol, a material that is toxic to humans and animals. Used antifreeze may also contain levels of dissolved heavy metals that can be toxic to animal life and may contaminate soils and sediments. If ethylene glycol biodegrades in large quantities, it can deplete the levels of dissolved oxygen in surface waters, killing aquatic organisms.

Is the Disposal of Used Antifreeze Regulated?

Currently, there are no federal requirements for the management and disposal of used antifreeze. EPA has not made a determination whether waste antifreeze is a hazardous waste. Regardless, most States have regulations for the management and disposal of waste antifreeze, regardless of whether it is a hazardous waste. Used antifreeze has the potential to be a hazardous waste due to its potentially high pH or its potential to have a high lead content.

How To Determine If Antifreeze Is Hazardous Waste

Because used antifreeze has the potential to be a hazardous waste, you must determine whether the used antifreeze from your vehicles is hazardous or nonhazardous. This can be done by either having the used antifreeze tested at a laboratory or by using process knowledge.

• Testing.If you make the hazardous/nonhazardous determination solely by testing, you must test each batch of antifreeze changed from each vehicle serviced.
• Process Knowledge. If you use process knowledge, your determination must involve a demonstrated understanding of the potentially hazardous constituents in antifreeze. Such a demonstrated understanding could include a combination of the information on the MSDS for the type of antifreeze used, a referral to a previous test that demonstrated that antifreeze from new vehicles does not contain metals from the cars, and/or having a procedure to ensure that any suspect antifreeze is segregated from antifreeze known not to be hazardous. Process knowledge can also be used if you explain your approach to the State or EPA and they agree that your antifreeze is not a hazardous waste.

In addition to testing and process knowledge, there are two functional indicators that show the antifreeze is (or is likely to be) a hazardous waste. First, antifreeze would be considered hazardous waste if it is mixed with a hazardous waste (such as gasoline). Second, antifreeze could be hazardous if it comes from an older vehicle where the antifreeze has been sitting for years and has picked up enough metals (primarily lead) to be characteristically hazardous for metals content.

Reclaiming/recycling Used Antifreeze

To avoid having to manage and dispose of your antifreeze as hazardous waste, you can reclaim used antifreeze in a closed loop system, connected by piping, and return it to the vehicle from which it came. EPA does not consider such reclaimed material to be a solid waste. Thus, even though the antifreeze may be hazardous, it is not considered to be a hazardous waste because the antifreeze is returned to its original use as a coolant. Closed loop antifreeze recycling systems are available that connect directly to the radiator, filter the antifreeze and put it directly back into the vehicle. Because these systems are considered closed loops, they avoid the waste characterization process for the reclaimed antifreeze. However, any filters in the recycling equipment do need to be characterized as hazardous or nonhazardous when replaced. Non-closed loop systems are available that connect to a used antifreeze storage drum. However, because these are not closed loop systems, the antifreeze in the drum may be considered hazardous waste and must be stored and disposed of according to the hazardous waste provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Used Antifreeze Disposal

If you do not reclaim/recycle your used antifreeze at your facility, it may be recycled offsite by an EPA-approved facility. If it is hazardous waste (because of its lead content), you must transport it by using a transporter with an EPA identification number and prepare it for transport appropriately. Used antifreeze that is mixed with other fluids must be characterized to determine if it is hazardous waste, and disposed of accordingly. Nonhazardous used antifreeze also may be disposed at a landfill that is authorized to accept used antifreeze. Many landfills have a tank designated for used antifreeze disposal. Used antifreeze may not be dumped with regular trash, poured into the sewer, or poured onto the ground.

Do's and Don'ts for Antifreeze Disposal

DO. . .Keep used antifreeze in a covered container and out of the way of animals, who are often attracted to its sweet flavor. Be sure your recycled antifreeze meets manufacturers' warranties for the vehicle you are servicing. As described above, recycle antifreeze by purchasing or leasing onsite recycling equipment; or using an offsite recycling service. Handle filters and other recycling by-products as hazardous waste.

DO NOT pour antifreeze into sewers, on the ground, or into floor drains, or mix used antifreeze with any other waste. Keep it separate.

DO NOT collect antifreeze in containers that have been used to hold other substances (e.g., gasoline) unless the containers have been thoroughly cleaned. Antifreeze can leach substances from the walls of a container.

For Additional information

Call the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 for information on determining if your antifreeze is hazardous.