Types of Collection Facilities

In general, facilities that accept used oil may be divided into two categories -- those that accept large quantities (more than 55 gallons) of used oil, and those that accept small quantities (55 gallons or less) of used oil. Operations by transporters, transfer facilities, processors and marketers are typically geared for dealing with bulk quantities of used oil. Facilities that accept only the smaller quantities of used oil are generally referred to as collection facilities, and may be subdivided into the following three classifications:

• Household do-it-yourselfer (DIYer) collection center
• Used oil collection center (registration required)
• Used oil aggregation point.

A DIY collection center is a facility that can only accept used oil from DIYers. DIY collection centers are not required to register with ADEQ. Operators of this type of facility usually impose some restrictions, such as a 5-gallon limit, on DIYers who use their facility. Although the DIYers who bring their used oil to a DIY used oil collection center are unregulated generators of used oil, the DIY collection center itself is a regulated used oil generator. Since DIY collection centers are not required to register with ADEQ, ADEQ does not maintain a list of these facilities. Typical examples of DIY collection centers include automotive retail stores and service stations that accept used oil from DIYers, but not from businesses.

• For a description of a DIYer, see Where Does Used Oil Come From?

A used oil collection center is a facility that accepts used oil from regulated used oil generators such as businesses, school and municipal maintenance facilities. Although by law the maximum size of each individual load of used oil that may be accepted by this type of facility is 55 gallons, many such facilities impose a smaller per-load limit. This type of facility must register with ADEQ. A used oil collection center may accept used oil from DIYers. This type of facility is classified as a regulated used oil generator.

• For descriptions of the various regulated generators, see Where Does Used Oil Come From?
• To register, see Registration of Used Oil Collection Centers.
• For a listing of the facilities that have registered as collection centers, you may download Registered Used Oil Collection Centers.

A used oil aggregation point is a facility that accepts used oil from satellite, field, or regional facilities, which it also owns, operates, or controls. Used oil aggregation points are not required to register with ADEQ. This type of facility is classified as a regulated used oil generator. Since used oil aggregation points are not required to register with ADEQ, ADEQ does not maintain a list of these facilities. The maximum size of each individual load of used oil that may be accepted by this type of facility is 55 gallons. A used oil aggregation point cannot accept used oil from regulated used oil generators that are owned or operated by other entities, however, a used oil aggregation point may accept used oil from DIYers. The following scenarios illustrate this type of facility.

• A company is headquartered at a certain location, with a large maintenance facility. The company also has a number of field offices located in the surrounding geographical area, each with its own maintenance facility.
• A company owns a fleet of mobile field maintenance vehicles to service vehicles in the field. Used oil that is generated by the mobile fleet is brought to the company headquarters and aggregated in one storage tank.

Registration of Used Oil Collection Centers

A facility that accepts small quantities of used oil (55 gallons or less per individual load) from regulated generators is required by law to register with ADEQ. There is no fee for registration. The registration is good for the life of the facility, but is not transferable from one location to another.

• For a description of regulated generators, see Who Handles Used Oil?
• For a list of registered collection centers, download Registered Used Oil Collection Centers.

To register a facility as a used oil collection center, submit a completed application form to ADEQ. To obtain an application form, download the form below or contact the Used Oil Program Coordinator. Return completed forms to the Used Oil Program Coordinator by mail, e-mail or fax.

• Used Oil Collection Center Application
• Contacts

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