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Used & Waste Oil
Although it is easy to confuse the two, used oil and waste oil are not interchangeable terms, and the way we are required to handle and dispose of it is also very different.
Used Oil
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes used oil as any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used, and as a result of such use, it is contaminated by physical or chemical properties like metal shavings or halogens. Oils used as lubricants, refrigerants, and hydraulic fluids are considered used oil.
Used oil it's also commonly known as lubricating oil or spent, and it can be collected, recycled, and refined to be used again for the same or completely different task if handled properly. There are services, which vary by state that pick up and re-refine the used oil. Unfortunately, used oil can also potentially be a hazardous waste, so it's always good practice to examine and label it accordingly. The EPA offers regulations for the management of used oil in 40 CFR part 279.
Waste Oil
Waste oil is a more generic term for oil that has been contaminated with substances that may or may not be hazardous. An example would be a gallon drum of oil that was opened only to find that the cap on the drum had leaked, and now the oil was mixed with water, rendering it unsuitable for it's original purpose. Simply put, waste oil is oil that has not been used, but it is found to be unsuitable (due to contamination) for its original intended purpose. Waste oil cannot be reused; often, it is diluted with water or some other chemical that makes it impure.
The table below contains examples of used oils, related wastes and wastes that are not used oil
| Used oil | Used oil related wastes | Wastes that are not used oil |
|---|---|---|
| Motor oil | Used oil filters | Fuel oil and other fuels |
| Transmission fluid | Used floor dry | Crude oil |
| Hydraulic fluid | Contaminated sawdust | Vegetable oil |
| Brake fluid | Oily wipes and sorbents | Tallow and animal greases |
| Compressor oil | Used oil spill debris | Vehicle antifreeze coolant |
| Refrigerant oil | Fuel tank sludge | |
| Cutting oil | Solvents and oils used as solvent | |
| Quenching oil | Parts washer sludge | |
| Oil-water separator skim | Floor drain sludge | |
| Petroleum-based grease | Mixtures of oil and other wastes |
