What should an industrial site do with kerosene contaminated with chemicals?

In brief

If an industrial site discovers chemicals in kerosene, the first steps are to stop drawing fuel from that tank, keep the contamination contained, and get the load assessed. Chemicals can change the hazards of the whole load, damage engines and seals, and make the fuel impossible to recover. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.

Chemicals in kerosene at industrial sites

At industrial sites, process and heating fuels, boiler tank bottoms, and redundant stock when plant changes. Solvents, thinners, cleaning chemicals and unknown liquids end up in fuel when containers are reused, when waste is poured into the nearest drum, and through deliberate tampering.

Collecting kerosene contaminated with chemicals from industrial sites

Bulk tanks, IBCs and drums. Planned around maintenance and plant changes.

Rules at industrial sites

Since April 2022 most manufacturing uses full-duty fuel; storage follows the oil storage rules and DSEAR.

Is kerosene contaminated with chemicals still worth collecting?

Often not.

How City Fuel Services handles waste kerosene

Send us the five details: business and postcode, roughly how much waste kerosene there is, what it is and any contamination, how it is stored and reached, and whether you need one collection or regular ones. We assess it, confirm a rebate or a collection charge, and collect on a consignment note.

Terms used in this answer

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.
Uplift: The fuel trade's word for a collection: pumping fuel out of a tank or container and taking it away.

Key facts
Problem	Chemicals and solvents in Kerosene
Sector	Manufacturers and industrial sites
Fuel	Kerosene
Also called	heating oil, burning oil, 28-second oil
Waste code	13 07 03* (other fuels (including mixtures))