Stormwater Best Management Practices:
Waste Oil - Disposal & Spills
Oil is used in many different applications - vehicles, equipment, cooking, etc. Once it becomes dirty/spent or spilled and becomes waste, it must be properly collected and managed to ensure that it cannot negatively impact the surrounding environment.
To minimize stormwater pollution resulting from the mismanagement of waste oil, you can do the following:
- Used motor oil and other waste oils must never be disposed in storm drains or catch basins.
- Return waste motor oil to original retailer - in Massachusetts, any retailer that sells motor oil is required to accept up to two gallons per day of waste oil from each customer. Simply drain the used oil into a suitable container and return it to the store that sold it. These MADEP guidelines, titled "How to Comply with the Used Oil Return Law, Guidance for Retailers" can be obtained by calling 617-292-5898.
- Ensure that used oil filters are thoroughly drained and waste oil collected for disposal with licensed hauler.
- If oil is spilled - block and cover all catch basins and storm drains to prevent the waste oil from reaching the Charles River. In many cases - the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and/or Environmental Protection Agency require you to notify them of oil spills.
- If oil is spilled - do not wash it away with a hose, etc. Use absorbent material such as sand or kitty litter to absorb the spilled oil. Refer to the attached Spill Procedure and customize to suit your operations.
