Race cars, like any automobile, generate waste that can damage you and the environment. Used motor oil, brake fluid, leaded gasoline, and many other toxic chemicals require special handling and disposal. Many have been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, eye and skin irritation, liver and kidney problems, headaches, nausea, and dizziness, among other ailments. For your own safety and the safety of those around you, it's important to know the basics about fluid handling and disposal.
Improper handling can reduce the effectiveness of the product, start an explosive fire, cause cancer, or scar your brain for life-especially with prolonged exposure.
Improper disposal can contaminate ground water and taint perfectly good property for generations to come. Also, local and federal laws can deliver heavy fines and possibly jail time if you're caught polluting-even for "minor" infractions (which really aren't that minor in the eyes of the law and the environment), such as incorrectly discarding a few quarts of used motor oil. Never dump anything hazardous down sewers, floor drains, on the ground, or into any body of water. Much of what's contained in this article might seem elementary, but it's our opinion that it's better to back up all the way to the extreme basics in this situation. The most important thing to remember is that if something is toxic and hazardous, there is a way to dispose of it properly.
For the Saturday-night racer, recycling does require more work than just dumping the fluid, but it's easy and very necessary. Local recycling centers, auto parts stores, service shops, most racetracks, and the nationwide hazardous-waste disposal company Safety-Kleen can help private parties with common hazardous wastes. However, those services, with the exception of Safety-Kleen or an authorized local waste disposal company, are generally limited to small quantities (like 5 quarts per week). If you're generating more than they can accept under the law, then it's time to call a local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office and establish an EPA ID number. The hazardous waste can then be discarded by a proper disposal company. It's also worth noting that laws vary from state to state and county to county.
Fuel SafetySometimes people can become too comfortable working around highly toxic and flammable fuel. Consequently, something may go wrong, resulting in a devastating accident. Because most race fuels contain lead, it's even more important to prevent spills and wear rubber fuel-handling gloves. Always have a fire extinguisher near any fuel containers. If you're using methanol, keep a water-based extinguisher on hand. Sixty dollars for a 25-pound fire extinguisher is a small price to pay for safety-and the chance to prevent a bad situation from becoming much worse.
Always have a method to contain a spill from your largest fuel container. Keep a large supply of oil-absorbent materials, such as kitty litter-type stuff, and disposable pig blankets (highly absorbent, disposable, large sheets of cloth), nearby. The litter can be used to surround and contain the spill, while the pig blanket can be used to soak up large areas.
Vapors from fuel are dangerous-they can travel as far as 25 feet from a fuel can and be ignited. The vapors left behind in an empty 1-gallon tank can explode with a force of four or five sticks of dynamite (the fumes are more harmful than the liquid). Always post a "No Smoking" sign and enforce it. Position containers out of the way of high-traffic areas where a person walking by could flick a cigarette butt nearby. Also, don't place containers near portable power generators, which could become possible sources of ignition. To keep ignitable fumes from escaping, always keep fuel containers sealed.
Moving on to gasoline hoses on the containers, never leave the end of a gas hose laying on the ground. If another gas leak gets close and catches fire, then that hose is nothing more than a short fuse leading to a powerful bomb. Teams that bring in their own fuel need to ensure the tanks are grounded with a proper grounding rod. Additionally, the hose leading out of the drum must be a grounded, UL-listed gasoline hose. Cheap plastic siphon hoses (not intended for fuel) that fit the barrels are a dangerous shortcut because they offer no protection from static buildup. Grounding prevents static electricity from sparking and causing an explosion. Finally, if the racing series has a hot pit where fuel is dispensed, the gas man, along with anyone changing a tire near the fuel, should wear a firesuit. If you don't have one, borrow one.
When disposing of unused fuel, don't mix it in with engine oil about to be recycled. It can ruin the ability of that oil to be recycled, which defeats part of the purpose of recycling oil. Instead, find a recycling center that will accept unused fuel. If the fuel is still good, give it to someone who can use it.
Engine OilAs everybody knows, used motor oil needs to be recycled. According to Safety-Kleen, just 1 gallon can contaminate 1 million gallons of water. In the United States alone, more than 350 million gallons of used oil (a volume equal to 35 Valdez spills) are improperly disposed of each year. As previously mentioned, don't mix unused fuel into waste motor oil. Always keep used motor oil in a container that is clearly labeled, and don't mix other hazardous wastes into it, thus creating a "toxic stew." Toxic stew can prevent large quantities of oil from being properly recycled. Keep waste fluids segregated and labeled.
Brake, Power Steering, Gearbox, and Axle FluidsComponent-specific fluids are hazardous wastes, too. Always store unused products in their original containers, and keep them labeled. If somebody (like a 3-year-old, who doesn't know better) accidentally ingests a hazardous product, it's crucial to know exactly what that product is. Many products state that vomiting should not be induced. In any case, read the label-this not only helps you, but also the emergency room doctors, who, should someone ingest a dangerous fluid, will want to know the name of the poison.
Back to product integrity-contamination from dirt, water, or petroleum products can lead to failures in the systems in which they are used. Always keep the containers clean and tightly closed to prevent moisture absorption. As with anything with a skull and crossbones on it, avoid contact with skin, and always wash hands after touching it. These products will damage paint and will damage eyes, too, so wear safety goggles.
Brake Parts CleanerBrake cleaner is highly toxic. Always use it in a well-ventilated area, preferably with an industrial-strength fan. Also, pay attention to where that fan is blowing. Make sure the fumes aren't being directed into a window or an enclosed space. Brake cleaner should not come in contact with plastics or rubber hoses because it will try to dissolve those items. Wear a NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)-approved filter mask when working with toxic aerosol products. These products may contain tetrachloroethylene, the stuff skull and crossbones were made for. Brake cleaner is destructive to paint, and the runoff should be collected (a big, flat pan will help with this) and disposed of properly at a recycling center.
Engine Cleaner/DegreasersA clean, shiny engine is easy to work on and a feast for the eyes. An engine cleaner conveniently helps keep an engine looking like new. Just spray it on, and rinse the cleaner off the engine. But wait, there's more. Most directions for these cleaning products say that the correct disposal includes collecting and evaporating the rinse water and recycling it. Once again, placing a large pan underneath the engine will aid in containing most of the water. If you don't have a pan on hand, try to use as little rinse water as possible. Improper disposal unleashes toxic gunk into the environment.
Carb Cleaner/Aerosol CansAnything in an aerosol can has the potential to catch fire, but carburetor cleaner is especially flammable. Use caution-don't spray it near anything hot, and don't smoke while using anything in an aerosol can. The best way to dispose of aerosol cans is to make sure all of the product inside is used up. Then, take the cans to a metal recycling center. If there's still product inside the can but no pressure to get it out, treat it as a hazardous waste, and get rid of it through a local environmental agency. When in doubt, consult the label, and always follow local regulations regarding these cans. A good starting point to finding out local regulations is the phone book. Look under the government section, go to an environmental subsection, and make that call.
Antifreeze/CoolantWhile many race car radiators are better off using water, many racers add glycol-based chemicals, water wetter, and various snake oils, which require special disposal. Once again, find a recycling center in your area that can take this product. Dumping it on the ground will contaminate the environment-and it's no secret that engine coolant is like sweet nectar to dogs and cats. In order to keep the shop dog safe, store the plastic coolant containers off the floor where Sparky can't gnaw through them. We all know dogs sometimes gnaw; keeping the fluids out of reach can prevent a tragedy.
Paint And Fiberglass ResinOld, crusty cans of paint shouldn't be allowed to sit around for years and rust. Unwanted paint needs to be disposed of properly through a local hazardous-waste collection agency. Fiberglass resin emits toxic fumes while curing, so always use it in a well-ventilated area. Use a NIOSH-approved mask and rubber gloves made for handling toxic materials.
Finding Local Hazardous Waste Disposal AgenciesCrossing the finish line and taking the checkers with a grandstand full of fans standing on their feet is special. It's not so special, though, if their water is polluted with cancer-causing toxins because somebody was in a hurry and neglected to get rid of hazardous wastes properly. A basic starting place for locating proper disposal sites is the phone book. In the yellow pages, look under "Hazardous Waste Disposal." For local laws and regulations, check in the government section under "Environmental Services." Safety-Kleen, the only national hazardous-waste dis-posal company, can dispose of just about anything. The company has 180 branches around the country and is NASCAR's official hazardous-waste management service. The Web also contains a vast amount of resources (some Web sites are listed in the source box). To contain the cost of hazardous waste disposal, join forces with other teams, especially if their shops are nearby.
Business ConcernsIf a race team has a business license, and it's generating hazardous waste, it must obtain an EPA ID number. This number allows a business to build a paper trail that can prove it is disposing of wastes properly. If a business ever comes under scrutiny for its waste management, paper trails of its disposal practices will be necessary. This number also allows the EPA to track waste generators so it can properly monitor them. This practice may seem like a big hassle to the little guy, but if it wasn't in place, large waste generators wouldn't be separated from small ones, and the general public would end up bearing the disposal costs of large quantities of commercial waste. The EPA places businesses into three categories. Each is classified by a "Generator Status." A Level One Generator Status produces less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month. This is the one that most professional race teams fall under. The next level produces 220 to 2,200 pounds per month; the third level is in excess of 2,200 pounds per month-only huge corporations fall into that category. The costs for commercial services vary depending on the location, type of waste, and amount of product. Cutting costs by not disposing of waste properly is uncalled for in this day and age, and is punishable by law.
Proper Fluid Handling ChecklistOil-absorbent materialsPig blanketsUsed oil containerLocal recycling centerMetal gas canUL-listed hoses for large fuel containersGrounding rod for large fuel containersIndustrial strength fanPlan to deal with spills"No Smoking" signsProper labels for fuelsStraps to tie down gas cans on trailerSafety gogglesNIOSH-approved filter maskA big, flat panA siphon tube with hand pumpRubber gloves made for handling toxic chemicals
