What should I do with kerosene tank sludge left in a tank being decommissioned?

In brief

With kerosene tank sludge left in a tank being decommissioned, 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. Mostly no. Call 07950 582635 or send an enquiry.

What sludge in kerosene tanks means here

Sludge is drawn into the fuel lines when tanks run low or are stirred up by a delivery, blocking filters and starving engines, boilers and generators of fuel. Before a tank is removed, cleaned or filled with foam, every drop of fuel and sludge has to come out.

Storing it until collection

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. The fuel above the sludge is usually recoverable and can earn a rebate; the sludge carries a charge.

Preventing sludge in kerosene tanks next time

Drain water regularly, keep tanks reasonably full and turned over, and have them cleaned every few years.

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

Uplift: The fuel trade's word for a collection: pumping fuel out of a tank or container and taking it away.
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
Problem	Sludge in Kerosene
Situation	In a tank being decommissioned
Priority	Fit it to the contractor's programme: tanks must be emptied before cleaning or removal.
Fuel	Kerosene
Also called	heating oil, burning oil, 28-second oil