What happens to kerosene recovered from a spill clean-up?
In brief
Fuel pumped or skimmed up after a spill is often mixed with water, soil, absorbents or debris. Once collected, waste kerosene is tested, dewatered and filtered, then recovered into fuel use or refinery feedstock. Call 07950 582635 or send an 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 from a spill clean-up: what to do first
Keep recovered liquid separate from used absorbents and soil, in closed containers, and record what was spilled and where. Closed, labelled containers in a bunded area; absorbents in sealed bags or drums.
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
- 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.
| Situation | From a spill clean-up |
|---|---|
| Priority | Promptly, so the spill does not spread or recur. |
| Fuel | Kerosene |
| Also called | heating oil, burning oil, 28-second oil |
| Waste code | 13 07 03* (other fuels (including mixtures)) |
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Official guidance: GOV.UK: hazardous waste.