Used Oil Produced in Jewelry Manufacturing Fact Sheet

January 2002*

How is Oil used in Jewelry Manufacturing?

Oil used in jewelry manufacturing may include lubricating oil, hydraulic oil, metalworking oil, bearing oil, and oil from compressor motors. Used oil is any oil that has been refined from crude oil, or any synthetic oil that has been used, and, as a result of use, or as a consequence of extended storage, or spillage, has become contaminated with physical or chemical impurities¹.

Why is this Waste Hazardous?

Used oil typically contains toxic substances that are harmful to human health and the environment, including organic compounds, lead, and other metals. Therefore, used oil is considered hazardous waste.

How should I manage this waste²?

Never mix used oil with any other hazardous waste. Used oil must be stored in tanks or containers that are in good condition. The tanks or containers must be made of non-earthen, non-absorbing, rust-resistant material, such as steel or oil-resistant plastic, and must be strong enough to hold the used oil. All storage tanks must be equipped with a secondary containment system³. All containers must have tight-fitting lids and must be kept closed except when it is necessary to add or remove oil. All used oil storage tanks must be inspected daily and storage containers must be inspected weekly.

It is unlawful to burn used oil as a fuel, or to dispose of used oil by dumping it on land or into the sewer. Used oil must be transported to an authorized used oil collection center or to a permitted hazardous waste facility that is authorized by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to treat4¹, recycle, or dispose of the oil. A registered transporter must transport the used oil, unless you generate less than 220 pounds (or 100 kilograms) of total hazardous wastes per month. If you generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month, you can transport up to 20 gallons of used oil per trip in containers of 5 gallons or less to an authorized used oil collection center, or up to 5 gallons of used oil per trip to a permitted hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility.

A registered hazardous waste transporter can transport used oil using either a full transport manifest, or a consolidated manifest⁴. When a consolidated manifest is used, the transporter must give the generator a legible copy of a receipt for the used oil received, and the generator must keep a copy of each receipt for three years. The receipt must contain the following:

• Generator’s name, address, identification number, phone number, and the name of the generator’s designated contact person
• Generator’s signature, or signature of generator’s representative
• Date of shipment
• Manifest number
• Volume or quantity shipped, the California and RCRA waste codes, the waste stream type, and the proper shipping description, including the hazardous class and United Nations/North America (UN/NA) identification number if applicable
• Name, address, and identification number of authorized facility to which the oil is being transported
• Generator’s signed statement certifying that the generator has established a program to reduce the volume or quantity and toxicity of the hazardous waste generated
• Transporter’s name, address, and identification number
• The driver’s signature

More Information & Contacts

For more information and questions, please direct them to our Regulatory Assistance Officers using the information below. If calling from outside California, please call the “Outside CA” telephone number provided:

Toll-Free in CA: 800-728-6942 or 800 72-TOXIC
Outside CA: 916-324-2439
Email: RAO@dtsc.ca.gov

For assistance or additional information, please contact the DTSC Office nearest you. For a list of all offices, go to our Office Address and Phone Numbers web page.

References

¹Health & Saf. Code, § 25250.1, subd. (a)(1)(A).

²Complete used oil management requirements can be found in Health & Saf. Code, div. 20, ch. 6.5, art. 13, and in the Cal. Code Regs., tit. 22, div. 4.5, ch. 29.

³Cal. Code Regs., tit. 22, div. 4.5, ch. 14, § 66264.193.

⁴“Treatment” is any method, technique, or process which is designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological character or composition of any hazardous waste or any material contained therein, or removes or reduces its harmful properties or characteristics for any purpose, including, but not limited to, energy recovery, material recovery, or reduction in volume) (Health & Safety Code, § 25123.5 and Cal. Code Regulations, tit. 22, § 66260.10.)

⁵Consolidated manifesting procedures can be found in Health & Saf. Code, § 25160.2.

*Disclaimer

This fact sheet does not replace or supersede relevant statutes and regulations. The information contained in this fact sheet is based upon the statutes and regulations in effect as of the date of the fact sheet. Interested parties should keep apprised of subsequent changes to relevant statutes and regulations.