---
title: What happens to kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned?
url: https://cityfuel.services/questions/what-happens-to-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/
publisher: City Fuel Services Ltd
---

# What happens to kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned?

In brief

Before a tank is removed, cleaned or filled with foam, every drop of fuel and sludge has to come out. Once collected, waste kerosene is tested, dewatered and filtered, then recovered into fuel use or refinery feedstock. Call [07950 582635](tel:+447950582635) or [send an enquiry](https://cityfuel.services/enquiry/).

## Testing kerosene after collection

A clear jar sample shows water, haze and sediment. Aviation fuel is checked for water before flight with water-detector capsules or paste; laboratories test flash point, density and freezing point.

## Kerosene in a tank being decommissioned: what to do first

Book fuel removal ahead of the tank contractor, tell us the tank size, what is in it and the dip reading, and keep the fill and vent points accessible. Leave the fuel in the tank until collection; the tank must not be cut or opened until it has been emptied and made gas-free.

## How City Fuel Services handles waste kerosene

Every load of waste kerosene is assessed before anything is booked. Tell us the quantity, the containers and any contamination; we confirm the terms, collect with a suitable vehicle, and take it to a permitted facility on a consignment note.

## Terms used in this answer

**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.
**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.

**Key facts**

| Situation | In a tank being decommissioned |
| --- | --- |
| Priority | Fit it to the contractor's programme: tanks must be emptied before cleaning or removal. |
| Fuel | [Kerosene](https://cityfuel.services/fuels/kerosene/) |
| Also called | heating oil, burning oil, 28-second oil |
| Waste code | 13 07 03* (other fuels (including mixtures)) |

## Related questions

- [What should I do with kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/what-should-i-do-with-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/)
- [Who collects kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/who-collects-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/)
- [How should I store kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned until it is collected?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/how-should-i-store-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned-until-it-is-collected/)
- [What paperwork do I need for kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/what-paperwork-do-i-need-for-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/)
- [How quickly should kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned be removed?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/how-quickly-should-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned-be-removed/)
- [Can kerosene left in a tank being decommissioned be recovered?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/can-kerosene-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned-be-recovered/)
- [What should I do with diesel left in a tank being decommissioned?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/what-should-i-do-with-diesel-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/)
- [What should I do with red diesel left in a tank being decommissioned?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/what-should-i-do-with-red-diesel-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/)
- [What should I do with petrol left in a tank being decommissioned?](https://cityfuel.services/questions/what-should-i-do-with-petrol-left-in-a-tank-being-decommissioned/)

**Official guidance:** [GOV.UK: hazardous waste](https://www.gov.uk/dispose-hazardous-waste).

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City Fuel Services Ltd, Fairfield Road, Droylsden, Manchester M43 6AX. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry at https://cityfuel.services/enquiry/.