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Disposing of used coolant

markb

By markb
in Boat Building & Maintenance

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markb Engager

markb

Posted
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Hi,

 

I have just drained the cooling system on my boat as all the hoses were persihed and I had no idea if there was any coolant in there.

 

As it turns out, there was and I now have ~25 litres of coolant to dispose of. I took it to the local council tip at the weekend, but they won't accept it. Where can I get rid of it? (safely and legally please..)

 

Cheers,

Mark.

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Neil2 Veteran

Neil2

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I'm amazed that the council won't dispose of it but it doesn't seem to be in the hazardous waste category according to my local recycling centre so maybe they don't have a responsibility.

 

My sister in law's cat has just died as a result of (deliberate) poisoning with anti freeze so I wouldn't be tempted to tip it in the hedge.

 

Back in the old days we always reused our car anti freeze, but for economic not environmental reasons. I don't suppose you can filter/reuse it?

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Phoenix_V Rising Star

Phoenix_V

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Disposing of used antifreeze

The product should not be allowed to enter surface water courses. Recovery for recycling is the preferred disposal option but if this is not possible, it may be diluted with copious amounts of water and then disposed to foul drains. (Source: The National Household Hazardous Waste Forum).

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alan_fincher Veteran II

alan_fincher

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Your LA were obliged to take it. They should have a hazardous waste section. You didn't turn up in a van by any chance, did you? If they think you're commercial then it's a different story.

Is that correct ?

 

Our local site, which is fairly comprehensive, will now refuse an ever increasing number of materials.

 

I suppose one should not be surprised by something like asbestos, but I now see, (for example), they will take no waste containing plasterboard, (a fairly obvious guarantee that even more building waste will get tipped in various field gateways and laybys on our rural roads).

 

I know that for some wastes they will not take them at our local site, but there are options to take them to other sites in the county, (often too far away that people will bother), but I am sure there are some things they still will not take at all.

 

So what are they legally obliged to take, and how far can they legally make you have to go to achieve that ?

 

Anybody know ?

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Bob18 Proficient

Bob18

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I can undertand their refusal of plasterboard, particularly that which has been removed from "old buildings" - until "fairly recently" there were a number of board products that looked like plaster board but contained quite large quantities of asbestos. Even a building maintenance specialist would be hard pressed to say "That board has no asbestos" just by looking at a board that has been in a building for a few years buried in the midst of a wall or ceiling structure, so there's virtually no chance for the man at the tip entrance.

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alan_fincher Veteran II

alan_fincher

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I can undertand their refusal of plasterboard, particularly that which has been removed from "old buildings" - until "fairly recently" there were a number of board products that looked like plaster board but contained quite large quantities of asbestos. Even a building maintenance specialist would be hard pressed to say "That board has no asbestos" just by looking at a board that has been in a building for a few years buried in the midst of a wall or ceiling structure, so there's virtually no chance for the man at the tip entrance.

Yes, fair comment, although I don't think that is why they at least say they will no longer take it....

 

I think their ban relates to the fact that materials with Gypsum can no longer be sent to normal landfill sites, (or something like that - I don't know the exact detail).

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Neil2 Veteran

Neil2

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Just returned from a trip to our local recycling centre. The lads there said no problem with anti freeze provided it is in sealed containers - you can't just pour it into a tank like waste oil eg.

 

It may be certain sites aren't geared up for all types of waste but a call to the local council should establish where you can take your anti freeze.

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markb Engager

markb

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I spoke to the local council. There are no sites in the area that will take it and it is classed as a hazardous substance.

 

They will arrange a collection, but will relieve me of £35 for the pleasure!

 

I want to dispose of it properly, but they don't make it all too easy do they?

 

I will try some other tips close to me that don't come under the same council, anyone know of any that take coolant near Isleham? (in the fens...)

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Neil2 Veteran

Neil2

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Posted

I spoke to the local council. There are no sites in the area that will take it and it is classed as a hazardous substance.

 

They will arrange a collection, but will relieve me of £35 for the pleasure!

 

I want to dispose of it properly, but they don't make it all too easy do they?

 

I will try some other tips close to me that don't come under the same council, anyone know of any that take coolant near Isleham? (in the fens...)

 

I know that area, surely Bury St Edmunds or Cambridge have the facilities? Got to be cheaper taking it there than paying 35 squid for a collection.

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Guest

Guest

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Posted

These councils are making it harder for us to dispose of stuff. I hate fly tipping and other such crimes, but little wonder it is on the increase.

 

Our local recycling place allows cars and single axle trailers, but wont allow pedestrians/vans/pickups in without a pass. Presumably pedestrian can carry more than a car/trailer? Out of interest I asked the guy could I go in on a push bike without a pass but he wasn't sure.

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NB Alnwick Veteran II

NB Alnwick

Posted
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........ only if you are trying to dispose of the pushbike, probably :rolleyes:

 

 

.............. coat :blush:

 

There are better places available for those with bicycles to disposes of :blush:

 

As far as anti-freeze is concerned it is toxic waste that has potential to harm wildlife and the environment. It needs to be disposed of in an appropriate manner - this will mean incurring charges and it is unlikely to get cheaper as time goes on. For those with inboard engines and an alternative means of preventing the temperature from dropping below freezing (we use a solid fuel stove) then, it may be worth considering the option of not using antifreeze at all.

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bizzard Veteran II

bizzard

Posted
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At our local tip Tradesmen were parking the van outside and walking in with their waste, making several journeys, rather than pay the fees.

Most recycling centres have a height restriction bar,so only small vans can get in.

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Guest

Guest

Posted
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At our local tip Tradesmen were parking the van outside and walking in with their waste, making several journeys, rather than pay the fees.

That will be the reason I am sure,but it does amuse me when I see the sign requiring pedestrians to have a pass.

 

Another one that amuses me: They have a maximum trailer length (body) of 3 metres and a single axle before a pass is required at out local, but no mention of height, so many have very high trailers that can carry a fair amount of stuff. My brother in law however drives a tiny Fiat van which can carry very little, yet he needs a pass (for which he has to pay) because it is a van. Of course he borrows my car and trailer, job done,no cost.

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blackrose Veteran II

blackrose

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Posted (edited)

Is that correct ?

 

Our local site, which is fairly comprehensive, will now refuse an ever increasing number of materials.

 

I suppose one should not be surprised by something like asbestos, but I now see, (for example), they will take no waste containing plasterboard, (a fairly obvious guarantee that even more building waste will get tipped in various field gateways and laybys on our rural roads).

 

I know that for some wastes they will not take them at our local site, but there are options to take them to other sites in the county, (often too far away that people will bother), but I am sure there are some things they still will not take at all.

 

So what are they legally obliged to take, and how far can they legally make you have to go to achieve that ?

 

Anybody know ?

 

You're right - they're not obliged to take all hazardous wastes and different local authorities will have different wastes they will accept.

 

In 2003 I worked on a project seeking to establish the amounts of household hazardous waste generated by consumers, and as part of that i visited quite a few local authority waste sites. At that time all the sites I visited were accepting antifreeze in their hazardous waste bins.

 

Here is the best current information I could find.

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Wasteandrecycling/DG_10014614

Edited by blackrose
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Bloomsberry Community Regular

Bloomsberry

Posted
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There are better places available for those with bicycles to disposes of :blush:

 

As far as anti-freeze is concerned it is toxic waste that has potential to harm wildlife and the environment. It needs to be disposed of in an appropriate manner - this will mean incurring charges and it is unlikely to get cheaper as time goes on. For those with inboard engines and an alternative means of preventing the temperature from dropping below freezing (we use a solid fuel stove) then, it may be worth considering the option of not using antifreeze at all.

 

But anti-freeze also provides an anti-corrosion element which is vital in preventing damage to the engine and associated cooling system.

 

Is there a non toxic alternative available ?

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Nose Miner Contributor

Nose Miner

Posted
Posted

Antifreeze, or ethylene glycol is slightly flammable, at least if you get it to 115c, so you could burn it. Admittedly the water it's mixed with might not burn too well, but one possible way is to mix it with sawdust and engine oil - this will then burn quite nicely - I get rid of my oily bilge water in this way.

 

Interestingly, ethylene glycol was first developed as an antifreeze AND as a component of dynamite!

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