How to dispose of used oil

Marketers Association of Zimbabwe super brands for their thrust in pushing for the recognition of and consumption of local brands and services in our economy.
Our focus this week is on the disposal aspects of used oil and the effects if not done properly.
Most of us have seen the sludge in the engine but very few know about its hazards. We hope to deal with this issue in our next article and also elaborate the health hazards involved.

Previously we have highlighted the dangers associated with the use of used oil both to the user and the environment. Unless this is addressed the dangers will still persist.
A visit to most outlying workshops will leave you with an impression that very few are complying with the Environmental Management Agency on disposal of used oil.

The article on the front page of The Herald dated July 14 “Fast food join scramble for transmission oil” made interesting reading.
The people that should be arrested are the restaurant owners for endangering human lives and also albeit endangering and creating a room for a market for the transformer oil which is obtained through vandalising Zesa property.

We believe that the use of transformer oils by restaurants has the same hazardous effect as the improper use of used oils. In the same vein we would like to implore authorities to investigate the origins of used oil that is sold on our streets.

We all know the consequences of the oil spillage into the Atlantic Ocean off the Gulf of Mexico last year. One litre of used oil can contaminate one million litres of clean water. It is our belief that all used oil irrespective of source of use should be disposed of in terms of the EMA Statutory Instrument.

We are aware that in terms of that requirement such oil is sold to authorised companies that use it for accepted products. But how then do you explain availability of such oil in the residential areas where it is used to control anthills and ants.

The worry here lies in the aspect that products manufactured from petroleum base usually have plenty of polycyclic aromatics just as the highly refined base oils.
Collins English Concise Dictionary defines aromatic as being an “organic compound having an unsaturated ring especially containing benzene ring”.

Polycyclic means “a molecule or compound having molecules that contain two or more closed rings of atoms”.
The continuous use of theses oils will cause keratosis and in more severe instances skin cancer.

Most oil companies are very clear on disposal of oil containers and should be commended as they indicate clearly on the containers that they should be disposed as per local regulations in this case EMA.
We believe in cases of used steel drums there is an inherent danger of explosion when you attempt to use oxy-acetylene torch and applying a hammer and a chisel in that you are likely to cause an explosion.

We recommend that these be sent to the renovators who are the specialist in this field.
The other aspect being the flooding market in Mbare Musika for used oil drums. People buy these drums and fill them with their doctored oil and in case of litigation the brand bearer is at risk. In legal terms really who is the owner of the contents inside?

Let’s assume it’s a drum with our label on it, the public will buy that drum and its contents and if something happens with the content they will assume that maybe its coming from us and yet it’s not.
It is also critical not to pressurise the container to remove contents as there is a risk of bursting. Waste oil disposal should be as per EMA regulations and should not be disposed in the drainage system, and or rivers.

You need to visit Lake Chivero to see the disaster caused among other things by toxic and oils that are flushed into the system.
We encourage you to be aware of the disposal methods that you use and ensure that you know your EMA regulations to remain alive.

Let’s meet again next week for more tit bits and these are not meant to substitute any regulations but are offered as tit bits.