Spent antifreeze is regulated as a dangerous waste because it may contain ethylene glycol, lead, and other hazardous contaminants. Businesses that deal with antifreeze can learn to recycle spent antifreeze, which avoids the need to count it as dangerous waste and possibly affect your generator category.
Only ethylene-based antifreeze can become "spent antifreeze" and then be recycled.
Not a business?
If you are a household or individual looking for ways to recycle household items, please go to 1-800-RECYCLE.
Keep used antifreeze equipment (funnels, pads, storage containers) separate from equipment used with other wastes.
Drain antifreeze from radiators and heater cores as soon as possible to prevent spills.
Keep spill control equipment in a central location and accessible to employees. Train employees to use it.
Routinely recycle spent antifreeze so you accumulate less.
If you do not recycle your spent antifreeze, you must handle it as a dangerous waste. Find more information about the rules for recycling spent antifreeze in the Dangerous Waste Regulations (WAC 173-303-522).
Keep all types of antifreeze separate
It's important to keep spent and usable antifreeze separate from each other, other liquids and chemicals, and to prevent contamination.
Usable: Antifreeze that can be used or reused in your shop without further treatment.
Spent: Antifreeze that is completely spent and cannot be reused without recycling.
How to store antifreeze
Ensure you store antifreeze using proper containment to prevent releases:
Use suitable containers (metal or plastic barrels or jugs) in good condition.
Keep lids in place at all times, except when adding or removing waste.
Store usable and spent antifreeze separately from each other.
Do not mix with other liquids and chemicals, including used oil, fuels, degreasers, radiator flush chemicals. Doing so could make usable antifreeze unusable, and spent antifreeze non-recyclable.
Make sure you have secondary containment in place or store containers on a non-porous concrete surface.
For usable: Label the container "usable antifreeze."
For spent: Label the container "spent antifreeze."
Recommended: Add the label "toxic" for either of the above.
How to recycle spent antifreeze
Businesses have three options for recycling spent antifreeze. Regardless of the option you choose, you must keep records.
On-site recycling
You can recycle antifreeze on-site through methods such as reuse, distillation, filtration, recycling machines, or ion exchange.
Be aware that filters from an antifreeze recycling machine designate as dangerous waste.
Keep recycling records
Although spent antifreeze does not count as dangerous waste or toward your generator category when properly recycled, you must keep records to prove this.
Type
Records needed
Years needed
On-site
Amount of spent antifreeze recycled.
Date recycled.
Weight of dangerous waste filters.
Sludge shipped off-site.
Recycling machines:
Log the amount of antifreeze recycled each month.
5 years
Off-site recycling
Use a hazardous waste service provider to send antifreeze off-site for recycling.
You are responsible for ensuring the provider properly recycles your spent antifreeze.
Keep recycling records
Although spent antifreeze does not count as dangerous waste or toward your generator category when properly recycled, you must keep records to prove this.
Type
Records needed
Years needed
Off-site
Amount of spent antifreeze recycled.
Date shipped.
Name of vendor.
Be sure to also save:
Bills of lading.
Receipts.
Any manifests.
5 years
Mobile recycling vendor
Recycle your antifreeze with the help of a mobile van or truck equipped with a recycling unit that visits your facility and recycles spent antifreeze on-site.
Keep recycling records
Although spent antifreeze does not count as dangerous waste or toward your generator category when properly recycled, you must keep records to prove this.
Type
Records needed
Years needed
Mobile
Amount of spent antifreeze recycled.
Name of provider.
Date shipped
Be sure to also save:
Receipts.
5 years
Frequently asked questions
Extra requirements for transporters
If you transport spent antifreeze generated by others, you will need to keep paperwork. The shipping papers will need to say, “Material not regulated by DOT (Washington State Dangerous Waste Only, Toxic).” You also need an EPA/State Identification Number.
If sent off-site to be reclaimed, it doesn’t need to be manifested as a dangerous waste and you aren’t required to report it on the Dangerous Waste Annual Report.
Here is a list of suggested best management practices. These are not required, but recommended:
Drain antifreeze from radiators and heater cores into a labeled recycling container as soon as possible.
Label containers and tanks with the word “Toxic" or a pictogram indicating the hazard.
Set up a container for antifreeze that can be reused in your shop without further treatment. Label this container “Usable Antifreeze Only" and “Toxic."
Keep containers closed except when adding or removing waste.
Keep spill control equipment in a central location, accessible to employees. Train employees to use spill control equipment.
Keep volumes of spent antifreeze low by properly and routinely recycling it.
