Scrapmetal/Backhauling
Preparing Vehicles and White Goods for Backhauling
Oil needs be removed from several places in cars, trucks, snowmachines,
and 4-wheelers. Washing machines, freezers, and fridges contain other
fluids that have to be removed before they can be shipped away. Autos and
trucks and other types of transportation have all or some of these things!
The following types of oil can be mixed and burned in a Used Oil Burner for heat recovery!
- Crankcase Oil
- Gear Oil (found in transfer case/ rear end / power takeoff / est.)
- Transmission Fluid
The other fluids can’t be mixed with used oil to be burned in a heat recovery unit because it produces really bad air pollution and would destroy the Used Oil Burner! They are:
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Diesel may be allowed (check with manufacturer of burn unit)
- Antifreeze
- Gasoline
- Solvents
- Paint thinners and other types of flammable products.
The oil that you recover from the transmissions of washing machines can be burned in the Used Oil Burner. The oil in freezers, fridges, and air conditioning compressors runs a good chance of being contaminated and unburnable, and it still has to be removed for backhaul preparation.
When prepping for backhaul after and/or while removing the fluids, remember to stage the items in a place that is easy to get to when you are ready to load it on the barge or whatever you are transporting on/in. In a remote village with minimum service you may consider a storage place away from the community, as it may be awhile before the barge or transporter will be willing or able to take it out of the village. As long as the fluids and other hazards are handled properly the vehicles and white goods pose very little environmental risk or health problems!
If you have more questions and would like to talk in more detail about this subject, you may contact Ted Jacobsen, our Tribal Solid Waste Liaison for the EPA. His office is at RurAL CAP, and you can call him at 865-7363 (or 1-800-478-7227 x7363). See his webpage on this site at http://www.aerho.org/solid_waste_mgt/solid_waste.html.