Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1378657
52 | May - June 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com ENERGY CONSERVATION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT filters are non-terne plated and are not mixed with hazardous waste materials). Beyond this, the EPA doesn't regulate what happens to oil filters, although they encourage recycling. Recycling programs exist for absorbents, and using these programs is more environ- mentally friendly than simply disposing of the waste. If used oil is to be recycled and used for energy recovery, the material will be collected and stripped of water and contami- nants. e remaining oil is then burned; the heat produced can be used to power different industrial processes. Burning used oil for energy reduces the amount of new material that needs to be burned to create energy. Additionally, your rags and shop towels may be eligible for industrial laundry services. ese programs typically retrieve your absor- bents, launder them offsite and then return them clean and ready to use again. Did you know oily rags can start fires on their own? As some oily rags sit, the oil in them can age and further oxidize. e oxidation process consumes oxygen and expels heat. us, if oily rags are thrown in the trash, placed in a pile or put in an inappropriate storage container, the heat produced by oxidation has nowhere to go. If the heat isn't dispelled, the oxidized oil can reach temperatures hot enough to ignite the rag material, causing a fire without a spark also known as spontaneous combustion. Conclusion Properly storing and managing oil-con- taminated materials, like rags and filters, not only creates an organized environment, but also helps protect assets and your fellow workers. Properly labeling and using storage containers ensures that valuable materials are not cross-contaminated and improperly used. And of course, proper storage can help prevent fires and other accidents. So next time you decide to throw out an oily rag, think twice and do it right. Author's Note: anks to Hayden Beeson for his contribution on this article. ML About the Author Bennett Fitch is the director of product development and lubrication program develop- ment (LPD) services for Noria Corporation. He is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machinery Lubrication Engineer (MLE) certification, a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level III certification and a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II certi- fication through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Bennett at bfitch@noria.com.