Glenway Waste Oil Site Closed Due to PCB Contamination

City of Madison residents who use the public oil drop-off site near Glenway Golf Course will have to use an alternative approved location for the foreseeable future. The City is closing the used oil drop-off site, located at 3733 Speedway Road, after being notified on January 3, 2013 that the oil tank had been contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The contractor that picks up the oil from the site collected a sample registering the presence of Aroclor 1260, a common PCB mixture found in electrical transformers, at a level of 59 parts per million (ppm). Subsequent samples confirmed the presence of PCBs. Because of the hazardous and persistent nature of PCBs, the City is taking precautions to ensure public safety. The tank is now locked down from public access and the City is working closely with several contractors to ensure the tank is adequately cleaned. Additionally, the oil collection program is being evaluated to help prevent similar occurrences. While the Speedway Road drop-off site is closed until further notice, used motor oil may be disposed at three other City operated sites situated throughout Madison. Open 24-hours a day, these sites contain a waste oil collection tank and receptacles for disposal of empty used oil filters and oily waste. A list of alternative drop-off locations and informational resources is also included below. Used motor oil can be re-refined into base stock for lubricating oil and other uses. For that reason, the City of Madison has contracted with Safety Kleen, of Madison, WI, to collect and recycle the used motor oil from these sites in accordance with all state and federal regulations. Safety Kleen collects the used oil from each of the public drop-off sites approximately once every two weeks. Before collecting the oil, a sample is taken from each tank and is analyzed for PCBs and other contaminates that could deem the used oil hazardous and/or unsuitable for recycling. Prior to being banned almost entirely in the U.S. in 1979, PCBs were used in a variety of industrial/commercial applications. There are no known natural sources of PCBs. Although their current commercial use is restricted in the U.S., they persist as a common environmental contaminant because they do not readily decompose. Additionally, human exposure to PCBs can inhibit neurological development in children, cause endocrine (hormonal) disruptions and weaken the immune system. PCBs cause cancer in animals and are a probable human carcinogen. It is illegal to dispose of PCB containing material at any of the public used oil drop-off sites. Disposal of PCBs at these sites is unlawful and subject to a penalty of up to $25,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, under Sec. 16 of the Toxic Substances Control Act; as well as a penalty of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, under Wis. Admin Code Ch. NR 157.07 and Wis. Stat. Sec. 283.91(3). Only new or used motor oil and automatic transmission fluid is accepted at these sites. For antifreeze, solvents, paint waste, and other hazardous materials please contact the Dane County Clean Sweep program at 608 243-0368 or http://www.danecountycleansweep.com/. . City of Madison Drop-Off Sites: City of Madison Garage: 200 N First St Northeast: 902 Wheeler Rd Monona Golf Course: 111 E Dean Ave Alternative Oil Drop-Off Locations: JENSEN AUTO: 1233 Regent St (608) 257-9201 Hours of operation: M-F 7am-6pm CAR CARE CLINIC: 2733 University Ave. (608) 233-4600 Hours of operation: M-F 7am-5pm Sat 8am-12pm VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE: 732 S Gammon Rd. (608) 277-0520 Hours of operation: M-F 8am-7pm Sat 8am-5pm Sun 9am-4pm VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE: 5522 University Ave. (608) 233-9099 Hours of operation: M-F 8am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm Sun 9am-4pm Additional drop-off locations can be found here: http://www.countyofdane.com/pwht/recycle/public_locations.aspx?type=4 For more information on the City of Madison waste oil drop-off sites visit: http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/hazardous/wasteoil.cfm For more information on PCBs visit: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/index.htm http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/hlthhaz/fs/pcblink.htm

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