Importance of heeding proper oil disposal practices

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joshua Stevens
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  In recent months, it has become necessary to reemphasize the proper procedures for oil disposals, due to a few, isolated cases of improper oil drop-offs at base facilities which have created a nuisance for those left to pick them up.

"We have had several incidents of people leaving used oil in milk jugs, paint cans and even five-gallon pails on the ground outside of the Recycling Center on Centennial Drive," said Gregory Johnson, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of environmental planning. "This is not allowed; the center can't even accept used oil."

The Recycling Center is not the only location prone to illegal dumping.

People also leave full containers in front of Auto Hobby and the Hazardous Materials building, said David Roney, 28th Services Squadron Auto Hobby and Hazcom program manager.

Practices such as this can even become a disruption to base security practices.

"Throwing it in trash containers and leaving it unattended in front of a building is a disregard of our security practices, because it can be considered a suspicious package," Mr. Roney said.

"The bottom line is, you cannot leave containers of used oil orphaned without a positive chain of custody," Mr. Johnson said. You must pass the used to oil to a certified person who can accept custody of it.

There are several outlets for proper oil disposal.

People can dispose of used oil by taking it to the HAZMART or to Auto Hobby, Mr. Johnson said.

Ellsworth members can consult the EAFB Recycling Pamphlet found on the Air Force Portal to find locations in Rapid City that offer disposal solutions, also, he added.

"Shops that generate oil as part of their normal operations must comply with the Used Oil Management Plan which is also found on the Air Force Portal," he said.

Certain procedures are in place for disposals.

"All used oils may be disposed of the same way, in fact, they can be mixed," he noted. "This includes synthetics, 2-stroke, 4-stroke, multi-grades, etc. There are no lubricating oils that cannot be disposed. However, gasoline and solvents cannot be mixed with used oil or disposed of as used oil."

Disposed oil is removed from the base by a third-party source, and all disposals should be taken care of in a timely manner.

For more information about proper oil disposal, contact Auto Hobby (open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday) at (605) 385-2900 or HAZMART at 385-4727. Those who do not have access to the Air Force Portal and need either the EAFB Recycling Pamphlet or the Used Oil Management Plan, can contact Mr. Johnson's office at 385-2692, 2685 or 6480.