Proper management of waste oil during collection, storage, and disposal is essential for environmental preservation. Sadly, most facilities don't treat waste oil storage with the seriousness it deserves. It might explain why almost 706 million gallons of waste oil finds its way into the oceans annually. Therefore, industrial facilities need to observe best practices of waste oil management, which include proper labelling of oil handling containers. While following the best practices ensures compliance and avoids unnecessary penalties, other benefits are involved. Read on to find out more.

Waste Oil Offers a Plethora of Information

Machines and equipment break down for one reason or another. Identifying the root cause goes a long way in preventing downtime, and waste oil are critical in this regard. Upon request, waster oil service providers can conduct a root cause analysis or failure investigation using waste oil from industrial equipment. Notably, waste oil contains useful information about system contaminants, which can help to determine the cause of machine and equipment failure. Therefore, you might never know what is ailing your machinery if you do not store waste oil properly.

Waste Oil Management Ensures Accountability

It is a legal requirement for industrial facilities handling all types of oil and lubricants to keep records of waste oil management. It makes waste oil collection tracing easy for government agencies, especially in cases where improper disposal practices are suspected. While waste oil generating facilities are supposed to observe best practices in as far as waste oil management goes, service providers are obligated to do the same. However, you cannot prove to government agencies that you played your part with appropriate records. Maintaining records such as the name and address of a transporter or refiner, the quantity of waste oil collected, and the date of collection will absolve you of any wrongdoing.

Waste Oil Management Saves on Costs 

As mentioned earlier, about 706 million gallons of waste oil ends up in the oceans, and this can be attributed to poor handling by industrial facilities. Unfortunately, most facilities underestimate the economic advantages that can be realised by observing waste oil collection best practices. For example, storing waste oil in drums without proper seals exposes it to further contaminants such as dust and water, consequently rendering it unrecyclable. However, taking the necessary steps to ensure that waste oil is protected before collection makes recycling possible, thereby saving money that would have been spent on fresh oils and lubricants.