Used oil collection for companies: how to store it and hand it over
Car workshops, transport fleets, machining shops and any factory with hydraulic machinery generate used oil. It's hazardous waste with clear rules for storage and handover, but also one that can be re-refined or recovered for energy very effectively — provided it reaches the collector clean.
In short
- Used oil is hazardous waste (chapter 13 of the waste list), governed by HG 235/2007.
- Don't mix it with water, antifreeze, solvents or other oil types: mixing lowers the chances of recovery and raises the cost.
- Store it in closed, labelled containers on an impermeable surface, and hand it over only with a shipment form.
What used oil is and how it's coded
Used oil management in Romania is governed by HG 235/2007, which sets out the obligations of generators and collectors. Used oils fall under chapter 13 of the waste list, and every relevant code carries an asterisk: they are hazardous waste.
The code depends on the type of oil: non-chlorinated mineral engine, gear and lubricating oils have one code, mineral hydraulic oils another, and oil/water separator contents have their own sub-chapter. The right code matters because it determines the treatment and the paperwork.
The golden rule: don't mix
Clean used oil can be re-refined or recovered for energy. Oil mixed with water, solvents, antifreeze, fuel or chlorinated oils becomes much harder to treat and more expensive to dispose of — and HG 235/2007 explicitly prohibits mixing used oils with other substances.
In practice, that means separate containers for each type: one drum for engine oil, another for hydraulic oil, and antifreeze, oil filters and soaked absorbents in their own containers, under their own codes.
Temporary storage at the generator
Used oil is kept in closed, leak-tight, sturdy containers labelled with the waste type and its code, on an impermeable surface sheltered from the weather. Ideally, drums stand on a spill tray or bunded pallet that would hold any leak.
Storage at the generator is temporary: it isn't a depot. Schedule the handover before the containers fill up, and record quantities monthly, as with any other waste.
Handing it over to a licensed collector
Used oil may only be handed over to an operator licensed for that code. As hazardous waste, it travels with the shipment form and prior approval required by HG 1061/2008, with the quantity confirmed on receipt.
We collect used and mineral oils, as well as oily sludges, with our own transport and the required documents. For steady volumes we can set a fixed pickup schedule, so the stock in your yard stays small.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I hand used oil over to any waste collection company?
- No. The operator needs an environmental permit that covers the exact code of your oil. Ask for a copy of the permit and check the annex listing the codes before the first handover.
- What do I do with oil filters and soaked rags?
- They're separate hazardous wastes with their own codes. Collect them in their own containers, not with the liquid oil, and hand them over with a shipment form as well.
- Is there a minimum quantity for a pickup?
- It depends on distance and frequency. For clients with a steady flow we set up periodic pickups; for small, one-off quantities, get in touch and we'll find the most efficient option.
This article is informational and reflects our practice at the date of publication. Romanian environmental legislation changes frequently — for your company's specific situation, check the texts in force and consult the environmental protection agency or a specialist adviser.