Waste » Business » Spill/Spill Control » Sorbent Material
Most sorbents containing uncontaminated motor oil can be put in the dumpster as long as there are no free liquids. Sorbents containing chlorinated metalworking fluids, compressor oil, or oil that became contaminated with solvents or other hazardous materials during use are often hazardous waste.
The best option for sorbents with uncontaminated used oil (petroleum-based or synthetic) is to recycle them by following the used oil regulations. Some oil sorbent recyclers compress or wring out sorbents to recover liquid oil and produce bunker fuel. Sorbents also provide fuel for municipal power plants and for industrial furnaces. Be sure your oil sorbent recycler actually recycles your non-hazardous sorbents as used oil. (Some companies accept non-hazardous sorbents, but manage them as if they were hazardous waste).
