Waste oil is produced across industries, from agriculture to automotive to aviation, there are a number of different professional roles that require taking responsibility for waste oil. But what exactly is waste oil? It is traditionally defined as any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or loss of original properties. Whether this occurs in a car lot where copious amounts of oil and fuel are required or in an industrial setting where oil is needed for heavy machinery, employees find themselves with a lot of waste oil that can’t be used in its primary role. So what’s a professional to do?

Any business that generates hazardous waste must follow the regulations put out under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. These regulations were established in 1976, yet many organizations are unsure of what their liability is when they produce and dispose of hazardous waste. The RCRA gives the EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from the “cradle-to-grave.” Let's talk about what this unique type of liability means for industries that generate hazardous waste.