| Motor oil leaked from individual vehicles in a car | | | | can take on a completely different task. For |
| park or even dumped by homeowners and | | | | example, used motor oil can be re-refined and |
| commercial garages inevitably finds its way into | | | | sold at the the car garage shop as motor oil or |
| the local water supply. | | | | processed for furnace fuel oil. |
| In the past soil and natural vegetation would help | | | | To prevent your own oil leaks and spills, take the |
| filter many of these pollutants out, but the hard | | | | following into consideration: |
| surface pavements and floors where these | | | | - Take steps to prevent leaks and spills. Keep |
| pollutants originate carries it right into the gutters | | | | machinery, equipment containers, and tanks in |
| and in turn into streams, rivers, lakes and the | | | | good working condition and be careful when |
| ocean where it can poison nature and whole | | | | transferring used oil. |
| ecosystems. | | | | - Have absorbent materials available on site. |
| This pollution also finds its way into underground | | | | - If a spill or leak occurs, stop the oil from flowing |
| water systems that in turn supply our drinking | | | | at the source. If a leak from a container or tank |
| water, so reducing it is a health and safety | | | | can't be stopped, put the oil in another holding |
| measure and could also save councils thousands | | | | container or tank. |
| of pounds a year in drinking water treatment | | | | - Contain the spilled oil. For example, containment |
| facilities and other operational costs. | | | | can be accomplished by erecting absorbent berms |
| While government agencies try to come up with | | | | or by placing absorbent pads over the oil and |
| different ways to implement standards to help | | | | surrounding with absorbent socks |
| reduce storm water runoff problems caused by | | | | - Clean up the oil and recycle the used oil as you |
| commercial and industrial companies, there is still a | | | | would have before it was spilled. |
| lot of pressure on the individual to do their bit. | | | | - If recycling is not possible, you first must make |
| Nearly a third of oil pollution in the UK comes | | | | sure the used oil is not a hazardous waste and |
| from the disposal of used motor oils by normal | | | | dispose of it appropriately. All used cleanup |
| citizens. During normal use, it can get | | | | materials, from rags to absorbent pads, socks |
| contaminated with dirt, bits of metal, water or | | | | and mats that contain oil also must be handled |
| chemicals that gets mixed in with the oil, so that | | | | according to the local disposal legislation. |
| in time the oil needs changing. | | | | - At the end of the spill response remove, repair, |
| Once oil has been used, it can be collected, | | | | or replace the defective tank or containers |
| recycled, and used over and over again. An | | | | immediately and also remember to replace used |
| estimated 380 million gallons of used oil are | | | | absorbents and emergency spill kits just in case |
| recycled each year. Recycled used oil can | | | | there is a... next time. |
| sometimes be used again for the same job or | | | | |