Antifreeze disposal

[benfrogg]

I live in Augusta, ME. The only place to get rid of antifreeze or similar chemicals is 25 miles away. They charge $27 per 5 gallons. I've got at least 20 gallons of antifreeze in buckets around the shop. That's over $100.

In my old town, Rockland, you could dump it down the drain. The local garages all do this.
I'm going to ask my friend if I can flush it down his toilet instead of spending $100 or more.

B

[kamesama980]

Originally Posted by benfrogg

I live in Augusta, ME. The only place to get rid of antifreeze or similar chemicals is 25 miles away. They charge $27 per 5 gallons. I've got at least 20 gallons of antifreeze in buckets around the shop. That's over $100.

In my old town, Rockland, you could dump it down the drain. The local garages all do this.
I'm going to ask my friend if I can flush it down his toilet instead of spending $100 or more.

B

Might want to ask the state or municipal EPA rather than your friend

[benfrogg]

That's a good thought. It would be far easier to not have to drive an hour to get rid of it.

It's not my friend who gave me the info about the city sewer disposal; it was the local GM dealership. (later corroborated by the city water/sewer district) Apparently all garages in town dump it down the drain.
B

[i-DSi]

In Belgium it's forbidden to dump it down the drain. Looks very normal to me. We (= private person) have to bring it to official recycling centres. We have them in almost every city (= less then 5 miles driving).
For companies I don't know the details, but it's similar.
I have 2 litres now and will dispose of it in the recycle centre. Very strange it's 'accepted as normal' in the US to pour it down the drain.

[theholycow]

It's not accepted as normal in the US. It's only acceptable at all in places where the sewage treatment facility is designed to handle it and explicitly says so. Anywhere else it is likely to be a crime.

[GasSavers_Erik]

I don't know about Belgium, but I know that in some European countries, sludge from sewer treatment plants is spread on farm fields as a free fertilizer (something that to my knowledge is not done here in the USA).

Perhaps the stricter regulations in your country are related to different treatment processes or end destination of potentially contaminated wastes.

[SeanHenry]

To dispose of it call the city in Kentucky we are not allowed to dump but almost every city has a drop site mine does it the first Saturday of every month. Other wise I would call local garages and ask them if you can drop it off to be dumped in to there tank. Alternatively you could just leave to at the door of a dealership and let them deal with it.

[theholycow]

Yup, I ended up using a Saturday drop site:

Originally Posted by theholycow

Anyway, I got an appointment for Eco-Depot as linked in my previous post and went. They never asked me for my form or appointment. I showed up, never got out of my truck, pulled up and they unloaded it for me and sent me on my way anonymously without even asking what it was they were unloading.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Phantom

... Alternatively you could just leave to at the door of a dealership and let them deal with it.

NEVER anonymously leave hazardous waste at the door of a business when closed. Because these businesses are responsible for keeping records on these materials, and are responsible if these materials end up in the ground water, they have to document, photograph, and file police reports to cover their butts in case your container was improperly sealed and/or leaking. I remember when I worked for the Gov't, it took a good part of the day to deal with it after someone left a couple of milk jugs full of used motor oil beside the dumpster.

[shatto]

Wouldn't have the problem if you used Amsoil.....

Here, most parts stores take it. Some even advertize they will take your used fluids to get you to come in.