Both the Federal Government and individual states regulate to some degree the burning for energy recovery and recycling of waste oil.  The burning of used oil in space heaters is currently permitted by Federal Regulations.  States may administer their own hazardous waste programs if approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Historically the presence of lead in waste oil has been the issue of concern to environmental groups with respect to burning waste oil.  However, with leaded gasoline being withdrawn from the market and the prohibitive costs of refining waste oil, the burning of waste oil for energy recovery is the most viable solution to the waste oil problem.

FEDERAL REGULATIONS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on November 29, 1985 published final regulations regarding hazardous waste fuels and used oil burned for energy recovery.  Final Rule 40 CFR - Section 266.41 (b) permit burning of used oil in space heaters if the following conditions are met:

1. The heater burns only used oil that the owner or operator generates or used oils received from do-it-yourself oil changers who generate used oil as household waste;
2. The heater is designed to have a maximum capacity of not more than 0.5 million (500,000) BTU per hour; and
3. The combustion gases from the heater are vented to the ambient air.