What happens to diesel drained during vehicle depollution?

In brief

Authorised treatment facilities drain fuel from end-of-life vehicles before dismantling; it is usually petrol and diesel mixed in the same container. Once collected, collected diesel is tested, water and sediment are settled out, and the fuel is filtered. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.

Testing diesel after collection

A sample in a clear jar shows water, haze and sediment; water-finding paste on a dipstick shows free water at the bottom of a tank. Laboratory tests measure flash point, density, water content and microbial contamination.

Diesel drained during depollution: what to do first

Keep fuel apart from oil, coolant and AdBlue, keep containers closed, and book collections before storage reaches your permit limits. Closed IBCs or drums made for fuel, in a bunded, ventilated area away from hot work.

How City Fuel Services handles waste diesel

We collect waste diesel from cans and drums up to bulk tanks, across England, Wales and mainland Scotland, from our licensed site in Droylsden, Manchester. Terms, a rebate or a charge, are agreed before collection.

Terms used in this answer

Digital Waste Tracking: The government's online service for recording waste movements. Permitted sites receiving waste in England and Wales have had to use it since 1 October 2026.
Consignment note: The document that travels with hazardous waste from the producer to the receiving site. Each person in the chain completes and signs their part.

Key facts
Situation	Drained during depollution
Priority	Book regularly to stay within permit storage limits and cut fire risk.
Fuel	Diesel
Also called	DERV (diesel engine road vehicle), road diesel, white diesel
Waste code	13 07 01* (fuel oil and diesel)