Antifreeze Disposal

[W_KY]

It seems like this has been discussed before but I can't seem to find the thread. How do you dispose of antifreeze/What is the proper way to dispose of it? I don't know of any recycling centers within an hour drive. I know Walmart will take used oil, what about antifreeze?

 

[weicm3]

did you check your township/city?

 

[longboy515]

Check your county/town's website. They might have details on proper disposal-

 

[lametec]

Got any auto part stores nearby? Most of 'em accept used fluids.

The city I work in has oil and antifreeze recycling containers behind the city DOT offices, so that's where I dump my stuff.

 

[Costner]

I like to fill up my neighbor's dog dish with it...the dog seems to love the stuff.

I just can't figure out why that guy keeps buying a new dog every few months. It never seems to be the same one.


(Do I really need to explain that I'm kidding?)

 

[DHCrocks]

over here for households you're supposed to absorb it and throwaway with trash.

 

[v8garage]

Cats love it.

 

[isuace]

I looked it up for my area, and it said to flush it, but only like a gallon a day. Said it would be removed by the waste water treatment.

 

[momswgn]

Down the drain.

 

[Torque1st]

Dump it into the toilet so it goes into the sanitary sewer. It actually helps the microbes in the sewer treatment plant. They love the stuff. I do not know what it would do to a septic tank tho.

 

[autoist]

Pour it down gopher holes.

 

[tcianci]

Why would you change it?

 

[johnboy94]

Dump it into the toilet so it goes into the sanitary sewer. It actually helps the microbes in the sewer treatment plant. They love the stuff. I do not know what it would do to a septic tank tho.

According to the EPA they say it is a no no. Problem being the heavy metals that build up in the antifreeze.
http://www.epa.gov/region/waste/p2/autofleet/antifreeze.pdf.


I don't know what the microbes in your treatment plants like, but they are not the same as the microbes in a septic tank, unless you have a good relationship with your local pumper I would not advise dumping it into an OSSF.

Your mileage may vary.

Johnboy

 

[Torque1st]

Regulations vary. The local recycling center is in the sewage treatment plant and they just dump it right into the plant waste flow. It was the officials there that said to just dump it at home.

That EPA statement says:
"Dumping waste antifreeze may be illegal: waste antifreeze may
contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium in
high enough levels to make it a regulated hazardous waste."

MAYbe in the old days there was a heavy metal problem...

 

[bgott]

I researched this a while back. Different places have different rules. Some places said it was OK to dump down the toilet, someplaces it was OK for homeowners but not businesses.

 

[nissan_crawler]

According to the EPA they say it is a no no. Problem being the heavy metals that build up in the antifreeze.
http://www.epa.gov/region/waste/p2/autofleet/antifreeze.pdf.


I don't know what the microbes in your treatment plants like, but they are not the same as the microbes in a septic tank, unless you have a good relationship with your local pumper I would not advise dumping it into an OSSF.

Your mileage may vary.

Johnboy

Notice that's for auto repair/fleet maintenance? That has nothing to do with a home owner.

Consult your local treatment plant, many of them allow dumping of antifreeze in the toilet and have equipment to take care of it.

I'm waiting for that putz rinny tin tin to come rushing in to this thread, foaming at the mouth now...

This is the thread you're wondering about that he turned into an abortion: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23774&highlight=antifreeze+sewer

 

[kwb]

Septic systems (what I assume johnboy is referring to with OSSF) aren't the same chemical soup that you get at a sewer treatment plant.

From the little I know of sewer treatment plants they will on occasion use ethyl glycol to keep things (bugs) working like they should.

 

[e-tek]

Cats love it.

Pour it down gopher holes.

Why would you change it?

Too many funsters here!!!

I pour it (everything) in my waste oil tank (45 gal) and take it to the oil recyclers. They seperate it.

 

[Gary S]

My city has collection tanks for used oil and used antifreeze at the city landfill. It is free to those of us residents who pay for it in our taxes. The landfill is about 1.5 miles from my house, so I just put my oil and antifreeze in jugs and when my jugs are full, I take it to their tanks. I end up making a trip about once every two years to dispose of it all the right way.

 

[wreckercologist]

My local authorities say to pour it down the drain. They claim the sewer system can handle it. They do, however, say to not dump it in a storm drain.

 

[autoist]

Too many funsters here!!!

I pour it (everything) in my waste oil tank (45 gal) and take it to the oil recyclers. They seperate it.

I'm not funnin'...I pour it down gopher holes! Makes the gophers go elsewhere.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Post an ad for an Al Qaeda party. When they show up, welcome them with a refreshing glass of antifreeze. If they ask any questions, tell them you are expecting 75 virgins at any moment.

 

[johnboy94]

Septic systems (what I assume johnboy is referring to with OSSF) aren't the same chemical soup that you get at a sewer treatment plant.

From the little I know of sewer treatment plants they will on occasion use ethyl glycol to keep things (bugs) working like they should.

Bingo, Anaerobic (septic) vs. Aerobic. Like I said the I am not up on municipal treatment plants, I would still think the heavy metals (Al, Iron etc..) would be an issue with used antifreeze? I have never analyzed contents, but you have corrosion in almost all engines to a degree and that corrosion I would think that that corrosion would have heavy metals.

Yes OSSF (is an On Site Sewage Facility)

Johnboy

 

[Torque1st]

My local authorities say to pour it down the drain. They claim the sewer system can handle it. They do, however, say to not dump it in a storm drain.

Same system as mine.

Even city tap water has Aluminum, Lead, Iron, and Chromium corrosion products in it. Not much Cadmium around anymore except in Ni-Cd batteries. Many of those end up in the landfill even tho they are supposed to be recycled. We will be mining the dumps soon...

 

[tcianci]

Hey, I wasn't kidding... I have NEVER changed antifreeze on any car I have owned, even torn down engines for a rebuild and put the same stuff back in. There is normally some fresh stuff you have to add to top it off when the system has been opened up. But other than that, nothing.

 

[Need4racin]

I take mine over to the locally owned shops and they take it for free. They usually don't hassle you if you don't bring in anything more than a few gallons.

 

[billspit]

It seems like this has been discussed before but I can't seem to find the thread. How do you dispose of antifreeze/What is the proper way to dispose of it? I don't know of any recycling centers within an hour drive. I know Walmart will take used oil, what about antifreeze?

If you buy the antifreeze from them, they should take the waste material back. I have had some problems getting rid of antifreeze. Our county has finally started a recycling system for it along with waste oil.