How to responsibly dispose of old coolant?

[clogan]

Need to change the coolant in my bikes, so I started thinking: what to do with the old stuff from my radiators. So I called around. Nobody takes it as far as I could find. Local recycling centers don't. Even the once-a-month hazardous waste collection sponsored by our county government doesn't take it. I offered to pay a local mechanic shop if they would take it; they declined.

What do y'all do with your old coolant?

[MAN OF BLUES]

Advance Autoparts accepts it, and also drain oil for free... check your parts outlets.

[clogan]

Thanks!

Advance Auto: That's the ticket!!

EDIT:
Called local auto parts places this morning. NOBODY takes old coolant. Neither Advance, nor Autozone, nor O'Reilley's.

Hate to pour it out on the ground. It's a pretty scary prospect to those of us who have a well.
Wonder if I could boil it off over a fire? Might take a while for two gallons or so. Or maybe seal it up in some old milk jugs, and send off to the landfill? Sure hate to see it get into groundwater.

[Rhino]

In Colorado Springs the county has a hasmet disposal facility for free. I've taken old paint, brake fluid, oil and antifreeze there.

[Conniesaki]

In Colorado Springs the county has a hasmet disposal facility for free. I've taken old paint, brake fluid, oil and antifreeze there.

"Free" ... haha! You're payin' for it alright ... and prob me too, bound to be some fed bucks going into it ... might as well use it, right?!

[Rhino]

"Free" ... haha! You're payin' for it alright ... and prob me too, bound to be some fed bucks going into it ... might as well use it, right?!

Of course. Let me re-phrase that. Pre-paid hasmet disposal facility...

[jimmymac]

Mum's the word.

 

[rocknrod]

My dog loves the stuff

[clogan]

In Colorado Springs the county has a hasmet disposal facility for free. I've taken old paint, brake fluid, oil and antifreeze there.

Our county facility won't take paint, won't take coolant, and won't take oil filters.
But they do take batteries, oil, and paint thinner. Go figure.

Our local CITY recycling center (cities and counties are independent of one another here in Tennessee) will take oil filters, even though the county will not. But the city place won't take glass of any kind!

If a person hereabouts wants to maximize their recycling, it requires a trip to a minimum of THREE different places: city doesn't take glass, county doesn't take oil filters, and nobody but Autozone (and perhaps other retailers) takes coolant.

Sheesh.

EDIT:
Found out this morning that none of the local auto parts places accept old coolant. Not Advance, not Autozone, not O'Reilley's.

Here, doggie, doggie!  ( I kid, I kid!)

[B.D.F.]

I know you are making a joke and all but: to everyone, please be careful with anti - freeze (ethylene glycol) as it is toxic to mammals and yet it is very attractive to drink. It tastes 'sweet' and pets will happily drink it and it almost always results in those pets deaths.....

Nothing that walks will drink, for example, gasoline, kerosene, used motor oil, etc., etc.. So leaving buckets of that stuff around is not really a problem but anti- freeze IS attractive to animals and it is quite toxic.

I am not the environmental police, just want everyone to know that a pet will happily drink the stuff and it is quite toxic when ingested.

Now, all of that said, I do not believe anti- freeze is an environmental hazard as long as it is sufficiently diluted before being disposed of. Not my field though so I suggest anyone / everyone 'spiff up' on that for yourselves.

Brian

My dog loves the stuff

[Gottaride]

Up here in Canada we've got this thing called recycling...yeah I know it's a commie conspiracy yada yada.

[gPink]

So we send it to you? How does that work through customs?

[Rembrant]

So we send it to you? How does that work through customs?

You'll have to funnel it all into dark brown beer bottles....lol.

Hey Mr. Pink, did you know that a case of beer (12) is $25 or more up here in Canada??...lol. That's about 6 bucks worth of beer, and $19 dollars tax. But healthcare is free, right?...lol. Just kiddin'....kind of but not really;).

Getting back to the antifreeze though...I do whole heartedly agree with Brian's comments...but I think everybody knows this...or they should. I believe that Engine Ice coolant is pet safe...I've used it a couple times now...seems ok.

As far as disposal is concerned...we have a weekend hazmat disposal place....just for domestic products...paint, oil, antifreeze, etc. I'm told that the shops that sell this stuff are somehow obligated to take the waste back...but I don't know of any that do. I tried a couple times years ago and was declined each time;).

In any case, happy antifreezing!!

Rem

[gPink]

12    A case of beer here is 24 or sometimes 30. Rem, does it cost that much more to recycle the beer when you're done with it? Is beer sales what's financing your free healthcare? Much more cost effective to drink whiskey, I'd think. Looks like we could send the antifreeze to Buffalo.

[Conrad]

You'll have to funnel it all into dark brown beer bottles....lol.

Hey Mr. Pink, did you know that a case of beer (12) is $25 or more up here in Canada??...lol. That's about 6 bucks worth of beer, and $19 dollars tax. But healthcare is free, right?...lol. Just kiddin'....kind of but not really;).

Getting back to the antifreeze though...I do whole heartedly agree with Brian's comments...but I think everybody knows this...or they should. I believe that Engine Ice coolant is pet safe...I've used it a couple times now...seems ok.

As far as disposal is concerned...we have a weekend hazmat disposal place....just for domestic products...paint, oil, antifreeze, etc. I'm told that the shops that sell this stuff are somehow obligated to take the waste back...but I don't know of any that do. I tried a couple times years ago and was declined each time;).

In any case, happy antifreezing!!

Rem

Bud lite? 

[mikeeitup]

Not sure how your State reg's it but any place that sells oil out here has to take the used in. I take in all my oil and coolant at the same time because even if they tell me they wont take the coolant, I DAMN well know they can and it's too late 'cause I've already dropped it off. I mean, how can they tell you they can't take it when they're doing a coolant flush in bay two? AMIRIGHT?
Mike

[Rick Hall]

Neither appear to be safe, though I think we all know one is less safe than the other. Or is it, hmmmm....

For your reading enjoyment:
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927167
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927239

Rick

[gPink]

Icecream and whiskey


http://fireballwhisky.com/press-media/?gclid=CIyX7JLl98ECFVKUfgodfysAXQ

RECIPES
WIN
SHOP
INTERACT
FAQ
 
 
 
PRESS & MEDIA

Dear Fireball Nation-

We have more answers to your questions, check them out below. Want to know anything else? Let us know, here.

IS FIREBALL SAFE TO DRINK?
SOMEBODY SAID FIREBALL IS MADE WITH ANTIFREEZE?
IS THERE A FIREBALL RECALL IN NORTH AMERICA?
WHAT WAS ALL THE NOISE IN THE MEDIA ABOUT?
WHAT IS PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG)?
WHY DO WE USE PG?
ARE YOU USING PG TO SAVE MONEY?
ARE YOU GOING TO STOP USING PG?
WHAT WAS THE ISSUE WITH FIREBALL IN EUROPE?

[maxtog]

Neither appear to be safe, though I think we all know one is less safe than the other. Or is it, hmmmm....

For your reading enjoyment:
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927167
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927239

Rick

I believe that MSDS on propylene glycol is probably inaccurate or flawed.  That is the first time I have ever read anything that says propylene glycol is dangerous when ingested or contacted.  Typical quotes:

"The acute oral toxicity of propylene glycol is very low, and large quantities are required to cause perceptible health damage in humans"

"The use and effects of propylene glycol have been thoroughly evaluated. This substance has been used safely for more than 50 years, including adoption in health-sensitive applications such as food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, where it mainly serves as a non-active ingredient or carrier of other substances."

"Prolonged contact with propylene glycol is essentially non-irritating to the skin"

[tomp]

Folks get confused between ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.  Over the years same can be said of ethyl alcohol and methyl or denatured alcohol.  One will get you drunk, the other will get you dead...There is also 70% Isopropyl alcohol and 99% isopropyl, one for disinfecting or massaging, the other for burning.

Here's what the US gubment says about antifreeze recycling...

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/antifree.htm