A lot of people who have used oil do not have a good idea of how to discard it properly. Oil is used in a lot of industrial applications and even in homes, and the result is used oil that is so adulterated as to render any significant use. However, much of oil need not be disposed of because it may still render some use in other applications. If it must be disposed of, then appropriate measures for disposal must be followed to avoid negative environmental impact. This is something people that consume oil should keep in mind.

Oil consumption generally leads to generation of waste oil no matter whether it is used commercially or industrially. Once oil undergoes various chemical reactions during utilization, the resulting substances adulterate the oil and degrade its quality. The contaminants of used oil are sulphur and heavy metals, and burning this kind of matter produces noxious gaseous byproducts. Proper disposal is imperative because the presence of oil in the environment is considered as pollution, sometimes a catastrophe.

This is why used oil must be stored appropriately if it should remain in the vicinity. Proper storage means containment of waste oil in well-made and tight containers that have no leaks. They may be situated on the ground or kept safe underground. Any facility designed for storage of waste oil should be well-engineered to prevent spill accidents. There should be an assigned personnel that would do monitoring on a regular basis for leaks and maintenance checks on storage containers and the entire storage facility for evaluation of potential spill areas. Besides maintenance being able to prevent a possible leak or spill, it can also avert more serious consequences through early discovery of spill, if a spill already occurs.

Treatment of waste oil is a more preferred option because not only does this reduce the amount of waste released into the environment but it can also have usable byproducts as a result. Waste oil can be treated and recycled according to the type of oil and the adulterants present, which can be determined by passing the oil in different tests. When the contaminants are properly identified, only then can we determine the correct process of recycling. During the treatment process, waste oil is re-refined in various steps to remove impurities such as ash and heavy metals. However, the procedure can be taxing and costly, especially if the waste oil is so contaminated that it needs a thorough treatment process. However, once carried out successfully, treatment of waste oil can produce recycled oil that is a source of lubricating oils for machinery and even fuels like diesel. Recycled waste oil can be used as motor oil, but it can be more expensive than the typical virgin motor oil. The recycling method is a means to prolong the life of this natural resource, which is present in limited amount.

The efforts for re-refining oil are purposely to reduce impact of waste oil in the environment. Waste oil disposed of improperly can infiltrate the ground to pollute the soil and the water table. Once it does, it harms the organisms and microorganisms that are exposed to it. The government has issued legislations regarding proper discarding of petroleum waste such as no dumping into the rivers and seas, no faulty storage systems, and no burning.

You can do your share of work at home. Many people have the habit of throwing off used cooking oil in the drain. If you don't know how to recycle cooking oil that has been used, you can contact your local recycling centers. There are companies that buy used cooking oil to be refined and be used in manufacturing detergents or biodiesel. Beware of improper disposal measures because these can get you penalized.