Brake Fluid Disposal

[BHopkins]

It is interesting reading the different experiences others have had at their local parts stores.

I recently asked my local Autozone employees if they take brake fluid. They told me yes, that it goes in the same recycle tank as oil, transmission fluid, PS fluid, gear oil. They said the only fluid they don't take is coolant.

 

[nthach]

It is interesting reading the different experiences others have had at their local parts stores.

I recently asked my local Autozone employees if they take brake fluid. They told me yes, that it goes in the same recycle tank as oil, transmission fluid, PS fluid, gear oil. They said the only fluid they don't take is coolant.

Ignorance is bliss at many chain parts stores.

one fluid I never, ever mix with oil is chlorinated solvents - electric motor cleaner and old-school brake cleaner are two such examples. Same oil guy told me if they do test the used oil drum/tank for perc or other halogenated solvents the oil must be treated as hazmat at additional cost.

 

[D60]

What is the correct way to dispose of used brake fluid?

I am aware that many people mix a small amount of it with used oil, but I have been told that brake fluid should really be recycled separately.

Thoughts?

Revival to ask: What did you settle on?

 

[oil pan 4]

Dump it on the ground or down the drain bacteria love that stuff.

 

[barryh]

I was wondering if one could use it as weed killer.

I tried it on some difficult to kill weeds on my block paved driveway and it really works. That's where mines going from now on.

 

[kschachn]

Dump it on the ground or down the drain bacteria love that stuff.

Wut?

 

[Stimp]

It is interesting reading the different experiences others have had at their local parts stores.

I recently asked my local Autozone employees if they take brake fluid. They told me yes, that it goes in the same recycle tank as oil, transmission fluid, PS fluid, gear oil. They said the only fluid they don't take is coolant.

It's all getting blended and burned as fuel in a cement kiln.

 

[oil pan 4]

Wut?

Ya.

 

[kschachn]

Ya.

So the bacteria in a municipal sewer system is capable of digesting brake fluid?

Since you just stated "down the drain" how about when you have a private septic system?

 

[The Critic]

Revival to ask: What did you settle on?

Take it to the county recycling facility.

 

[BMW Dom]

I took mine to Firestone and they took it

 

[KevinMalone]

Interesting that some places mix it with motor oil. Our regional recycling explicitly excludes brake fluid and says to dispose of it in the garage after it is no longer a liquid (absorbed in cat litter, etc). They do accept antifreeze though

 

[MalibuRam65]

What is the correct way to dispose of used brake fluid?

I am aware that many people mix a small amount of it with used oil, but I have been told that brake fluid should really be recycled separately.

Thoughts?

Most folks here in NYC either leave the use fluid including brake fluid in front of a AutoZone and or Advance auto . They dropped them off when the stores are closed obviously so no push back from employees saying the tank is full .

 

[y_p_w]

I throw mine in with the used oil at the local recycling tanks. It all gets burned as dirty furnace fuel. There is no “official recycling process” for it here. It’s diluted so far down I couldn’t think anyone cares. Same with PS fluid.

I'm looking for some recommendations for what to do in BC with brake fluid. Pretty much all recommendations I found were that they could go through household hazardous waste disposal at drop off facilities. I even found one city that said brake fluid could be soaked in paper towels or kitty litter and disposed of as household garbage. But I guess it would depend on local laws.

For the longest time I used to dump my oil soaked paper towels in the used oil container cans at a recycling center. However, they no longer have such collection (just oil itself) and now they're saying that used oil containers should be disposed of as household trash. But then I would save my oil soaked paper towels for my household hazardous waste dropoff, until one time they said they wouldn't take it. Told me to dump it in my trash. Apparently it legally isn't considered hazardous waste in my area.

 

[Warstud]

I tried it on some difficult to kill weeds on my block paved driveway and it really works. That's where mines going from now on.

I just used some salt water from my soft water tank to kill the weeds / grass that grows thru my Driveway and stone flower beds

 

[oil pan 4]

So the bacteria in a municipal sewer system is capable of digesting brake fluid?

Since you just stated "down the drain" how about when you have a private septic system?

Same results.

 

[kschachn]

Same results.

You’re either clueless or you’re clueless.

 

[SHOZ]

I pour glycol stuff out on a flat non porous surface with a thin layer of gravel,. Soon evaporates.

 

[oil pan 4]

You’re either clueless or you’re clueless.

What doom and gloom are you assuming happens?

 

[camrydriver111]

What is the correct way to dispose of used brake fluid?

I am aware that many people mix a small amount of it with used oil, but I have been told that brake fluid should really be recycled separately.

Thoughts?

Why can't you mix it with oil? Brake fluid is also a hydrocarbon.

When I returned coolant and motor oil, the guy at the recyling facility took my jugs and dumped the coolant into the same tank as the oil.

Does this mean that the oil can't be recycled now because he contamined it with water?

When the oil is recycled, I believe they remove the water, and then fractionate the oil, because its expected to be contaminated. Oil gets fractionated so I don't see an issue with mixing different hydrocarbons like brake fluid, ATF, PS, with oil.