Vehicle Maintenance
Industry Overview
If your business is in the vehicle maintenance category, then
the products you use on the vehicles and on your equipment,
tools, hands, or floor might contain hazardous materials, and the
waste generated by using these products might be hazardous
waste. If you generate hazardous waste, you might be subject to
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements
covering the generation, transportation, and management of haz-
ardous waste.
Your business is classified under vehicle maintenance if you
repair or maintain:
• Vans
• Trucks
• Vehicle Fleets
• Heavy equipment
• Farm equipment.
Vehicle maintenance operations that might generate hazardous
waste include:
• Removing oil or grease
• Removing rust, dirt, or paint
• Repairing or rebuilding
• Refinishing or restoring
• Painting
• Replacing lead-acid batteries.
Hazardous Wastes
from Vehicle Maintenance
Everyday mechanics and body repair personnel use products
containing hazardous materials. Products containing materials that
are hazardous to human health and the environment include:
Waste that is generated as a result of using these products might
be RCRA-regulated hazardous waste.
Table 1 lists typical processes/operations that use products that
might contain hazardous materials and that probably generate haz-
ardous waste. If you generate 100 kilograms (220 pounds or about
half of a 55-galJon drum) or more of hazardous waste per month,
you must fill out a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest when you
ship hazardous waste off your property. The Manifest requires the
proper Department of Transportation (DOT) description for each
waste. Table 2 lists proper DOT shipping descriptions for a
number of wastes that might be generated during vehicle mainte-
nance operations. Table 1 and Table 2 are not comprehensive
lists. If you suspect any waste you generate is hazardous, check
with your state hazardous waste management agency or Regional
EPA office.
There are special provisions in the regulations for spent lead-
acid batteries and used oil. YOU do not have to use a Manifest
when you ship used lead batteries that are destined for recycling or
used motor oil that is destined for recycling. If, however, you are
disposing of used oil yourself or are sending it off-site for
disposal, you generally should handle it as hazardous waste be-
cause it is likely to be ignitable or toxic. Special requirements
apply if you are burning used oil as fuel. Your state might have
its own requirements for lead-acid batteries or used oil; check with
your state hazardous waste management agency.
Waste Minimization
An effective waste minimization program can reduce the costs,
liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste manage-
ment, while potentially enhancing efficiency, product quality, and
community relations. Waste minimization techniques that can
help you reduce the amount of hazardous waste that you generate
include:
Rust removers that contain strong acid or alkaline
solutions
Carburetor cleaners that contain flammable or
combustible liquids
Parts cleaners and degreasers that contain toxic
chemicals
Paint thinners or reducers that are ignitable or
contain toxic constituents
Motor oil and other petroleum products that
are ignitable or contain toxic chemicals
Auto and truck batteries.
• Production planning and sequencing
• Process/equipment adjustment or modification
• Raw material substitution
• Loss prevention and housekeeping
• Waste segregation and separation
• Recycling.
Training and supervision of employees implementing waste
minimization techniques is an important part of your successful
program. Call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline toll-free at 800-424-
9346 (or TDD 800-553-7672 for the hearing-impaired) for waste
minimization information and publications.
EPA/530-SW-90-027a
Printed on recycled paper
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Table 1
Typical Vehicle Maintenance Operations:
Materials Used and Hazardous Wastes that Might be Generated
Process/Operation
Materials Used
Typical Material Ingredient
General Types of Waste Generated
Dcgrcasing
Rust Removal
Paint Preparation
Painting
Spray Booth, Spray Guns,
and Brush Cleaning
Paint Removal
Tank Cleanout
Installing Lead-Acid
Batteries
Degreasers (gunk), carburetor
cleaners, engine cleaners,
solvents, acids/alkalies,
cleaning fluids
Naval jelly, strong acids, strong
alkalies
Paint thinners, enamel reducers,
white spirits
Enamels, lacquers, epoxies,
alkyds, acrylics, primers,
solvents
Paint thinners, enamel reducers,
solvents, white spirits
Solvents, paint thinners, enamel
reducers, white spirits
Solvents or cleaners to wash out
tanks, residues
Used batteries of cars, trucks,
boats, motorcycles, and other
vehicles
Petroleum distillates, aromatic hydrocar-
bons, mineral spirits, benzene, toluene,
petroleum naphtha
Phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid,
hydrofluoric acid, sodium hydroxide
Alcohols, petroleum distillates, oxygenated Paint wastes
solvents, mineral spirits, ketones Spent solvents
Ignitable wastes
Toxic wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Spent Solvents
Ignitable wastes
Toxic wastes
Acid/alkaline wastes
Acetone, toluene, benzene, petroleum
distillates, epoxy ester resins, methylene
chloride, xylene, VM&P naphtha, aromatic
hydrocarbons, methyl isobutyl, ketones
Ketones, alcohols, toluene, acetone,
isopropyl alcohol, petroleum distillates,
mineral spirits
Acetone, toluene, petroleum distillates,
methanol, methylene chloride, isopropyl
alcohol, mineral spirits, alcohols, ketones,
other oxygenated solvents
Solvents, petroleum products in tanks
Lead dross
Paint wastes
Spent solvents
Ignitable wastes
Toxic wastes
Paint wastes
Spent solvents
Toxic wastes
Paint wastes
Spent solvents
Toxic wastes
Tank draws containing toxic residues
Acid/alkaline wastes
Batteries (lead-acid)
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Table 2
Vehicle Maintenance Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type
Desiqnations/Trade Names
STRONG ACID/ALKALINE WASTES
Ammonium Hydroxide
Hydrobromic Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid
Nitric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Potassium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide
Sulfuric Acid
Chromic Acid
SPENT SOLVENTS AND
Ethylene Dichloride*
Benzene*
Toluene
Ethyl Benzene
Chlorobenzene*
Cresols*
Trichloroethylene*
Methyl Ethyl Ketone*
Chloroform*
Carbon Tetrachloride*
Hexachloroethane*
White Spirits, Varsol
1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Petroleum Distillates
Ammonium Hydroxide, NH4OH, Spirit
of Hartshorn, Aqua Ammonia
Hydrobromic Acid, HBr
Hydrochloric Acid, HC1, Muriatic Acid
Hydrofluoric Acid, HF, Fluorohydric
Acid
Nitric Acid, HN02, Aquafortis
Phosphoric Acid, H3P04,
Orthophosphoric Acid
Potassium Hydroxide, KOH, Potassium
Hydrate, Caustic Potash, Potassa
DOT Shipping Name
Waste Ammonium Hydroxide (containing not
less than 12% but not more than 44% ammonia)
(containing less than 12% ammonia)
Waste Hydrobromic Acid (not more than 49%
strength)
Waste Hydrochloric Acid
Waste Hydrofluoric Acid
Waste Nitric Acid (over 40%)
(40% or less)
Waste Phosphoric Acid
Waste Potassium Hydroxide Solution
Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or Granular
Sodium Hydroxide NaOH, Caustic Soda, Waste Sodium Hydroxide Solution
Soda Lye, Sodium Hydrate Dry Solid, Flake, Bead, or Granular
Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4, Oil of Vitriol
Chromic Acid
IGNITABLE OR TOXIC WASTES
Ethylene Dichloride, 1,2-
Dichloroethane
Benzene
Toluene
Ethyl Benzene
Chlorobenzene, Monochlorobenzene,
Phenylchloride
o-Cresol, m-Cresol, p-Cresol, (m,p)-
Cresol, (o,m,p)- Cresol
TCE, Gemalgene, Lanadin, Lethurin,
Nialk, Perm-a-Chlor
Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, Methyl
Acetone, Meetco, Butanone, Ethyl
Methyl Ketone
Chloroform
Perchloromethane Tetraform, Carbona
Halon 104
Hexachloroethane
White Spirits, Mineral Spirits,
Naphtha
Aerothene TT, Chlorten,
Chloroethane, Methyl Chloroform,
Alpha T, Chlorotene
Petroleum Distillates
Waste Sulfuric Acid
Waste Chromic Acid Solution
CONTAINING:
Waste Ethylene Dichloride
Waste Benzene (benzol)
Waste Toluene (toluol)
Waste Ethyl Benzene
Waste Chlorobenzene
Waste Cresol
Waste Trichloroethylene
Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Waste Chloroform
Waste Carbon Tetrachloride
, Waste Hexachloroethane
Waste Naphtha
Waste 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane
Waste Petroleum Distillate
Hazard Class
Corrosive Material
ORM-A
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Flammable Liquid2
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Corrosive Material
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
ORM-A
ORM-A
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
Combustible Liquid3
UN/NA
ID Number
NA2672
NA2672
UN1788
NA1789
UN1790
UN2031
NA1760
UN1805
UN1814
UN1813
UN1824
UN1823
UN1830,
UN1755
UNI 184
UNI 114
UN1294
UN1175
UNI 134
UN2076
UN1710
UNI 193
UN1888
UN1846
NA9037
UN2553
UN2831
UN1268
UN1268
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Waste Type
13016 C. (cominued)
Vehicle Maintenance Waste Descriptions1
Designations/Trade Names DOT Shipping Name
Hazard Class
UN/NA
ID Number
PAINT WASTES WITH HEAVY METALS
Heavy'Metal paints or
paint sludges with:
Lead*
Ntekcl*
Chromium*
Heavy Metal Paints
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid, NOS4
ORM-E
NA9189
OTHER WASTES
Lead-Acid Batteries
Used Oil
Ignitable Wastes, NOS4
Hazardous Waste, NOS
Lead-Acid Batteries
Various petroleum products
Ignitable wastes
Lead Dross (containing 3% or more free acid)
Waste Petroleum Oil, NOS
Waste Petroleum Oil, NOS
Waste Flammable Liquid, NOS
Waste Combustible Liquid, NOS
Waste Flammable Solid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, Liquid or Solid, NOS
ORM-C
Combustible Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Combustible Liquid
Flammable Solid
ORM-E
NA1794
NA1270
NA1270
: UN1993
NA1993
UN1325
UN9189
* Toxicity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a TCLP leachate containing a Toxicity Characteristic constituent equal to or above regulatory
levels is hazardous.
1 These descriptions may change given variations in waste characteristics or conditions. Note that the DOT shipping name, hazard class, and UN/NA ID number
do not necessarily correspond to RCRA hazardous waste categories.
2 A flammable liquid has a flash point below 100°F.
3 A combustible liquid has a flash point between 100°F and 200°F.
4 NOS • Not otherwise specified.
For further information call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline 1-800-424-9346
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