Disposal of Mechanical Grease

What You Should Know About Waste Management Practices for Auto Repair Operations

Your business is important to the community and it plays an integral role in the economy of our city. As a business owner you have responsibilities to keep your establishment in compliance with many regulations.

The Environmental Services and Operations Departments also have responsibilities for maintaining and keeping up the City's sewage systems: 1,544 km of sanitary and storm sewers, 2 wastewater treatment plants and numerous pumping stations located throughout the City of Windsor. In order to work effectively, sewage systems need to be in proper working order from the drain to the City's treatment plants. There are numerous storm retention basins located throughout the city.

Normal sanitary waste can be handled without difficulty. However, waste oil and toxic and corrosive liquid wastes can damage sewer systems, put workers and the public at health risk, and kill micro organisms used in bio-treatment at the City's treatment plant. For this reason, these substances should be controlled at the source and not disposed of down the drain.

The City of Windsor needs everyone to do their part to maintain the sewer system so that repairs will not be disruptive to residents or businesses.

Auto repair establishments that generate waste oil are required to have an oil interceptor in working order and a waste oil tank for recycling. Proper disposal of waste auto antifreeze and gasoline is crucial.

Commercial establishments are regulated through municipal by-laws regarding proper disposal into sanitary or storm drains. To read the City of Windsor's Sewer Use By-law, visit By-laws Online.

Best Management Practices - Your Responsibilities:

  • Have a spill response plan in place in the event of oil, gasoline or solvent spills
  • Recycle waste oil and antifreeze
  • Train staff in limitations of storm water and wastewater discharge
  • Clean up oil spills using an absorbent material (e.g. cat litter) and place in the dry trash bin
  • Ensure mop water is disposed of in the sanitary drain (mop sink, floor drain)
  • Ensure your oil interceptor is properly sized and cleaned out on a regular basis

About Oil Interceptors

Oil Interceptors operate on the gravity principle. The time the water rests in the interceptor is crucial because it gives solids time to settle and oil time to rise to the surface.

Plumbing entering the chambers of the interceptor must be complete and in working order for the system to properly separate the waste oil/grit. Ensure your interceptor lids are accessible for inspection.

Interceptor Maintenance

Dirty samples of water from the outlet and a backup of water from the tanks are signs to clean the interceptors. Upon notice, just follow these simple steps to clean the tanks:

  • Limit the amount of oil spillage to the floor drains by using an absorbent material.
  • Limit the amount of grit or solids entering the floor drains, and use a waste solid refuse container.
  • Call a licensed waste oil hauler to clean the waste grit and oil out of the interceptor. Ensure the job is complete and the oil is removed.

For more information:

For general information, please contact 311. For detailed inquiries, contact:

Pollution Control
Lou Romano Water Reclamation Plant
4155 Ojibway Parkway
Windsor, Ontario
Canada
N9C 4A5
Phone: (519) 253-7217