What should a household do with red diesel contaminated with sediment?

In brief

For a household, sediment in red diesel means stopping use of that fuel straight away, keeping it away from drains, and arranging an assessment and collection. Sediment blocks filters and wears pumps, injectors and nozzles, and it gives microbes somewhere to settle and grow. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.

Sediment in red diesel at households

At households, old heating oil, fuel left in garden equipment and vehicles, and inherited cans and drums. Rust and scale from steel tanks, dust and grit through open fill points and vents, and degraded fuel all settle to the bottom of tanks over time.

Collecting red diesel contaminated with sediment from households

Heating oil tanks, cans and small drums. Usually a one-off.

Rules at households

Household waste fuel should go to a licensed collector or the council's recycling centre, never down a drain. The paperwork rules for householders are simpler than for businesses.

Is red diesel contaminated with sediment still worth collecting?

Yes.

How City Fuel Services handles waste red diesel

Every load of waste red diesel 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

Diesel bug: Bacteria and fungi that grow where water meets diesel in a tank. They form slime and sludge that block filters.
Bund: A wall, tray or outer case around a fuel container that holds any leak. For oil and fuel stored at a business, bunds for tanks, bowsers and IBCs are sized at 110% of the container.

Key facts
Problem	Sediment in Red diesel
Sector	Households
Fuel	Red diesel
Also called	gas oil, rebated diesel, marked gas oil
Waste code	13 07 01* (fuel oil and diesel)