Antifreeze is used as an engine
coolant and contains either the chemical ethylene glycol or
propylene glycol. Ethylene
glycol is very toxic (one
teaspoon to one ounce may be fatal to an adult) and is attractive
to animals and small children due to it's sweet taste.
Propylene glycol is less toxic and lacks a sweet taste.
Disposed of improperly, antifreeze poses a potential health hazard
and may pollute groundwater, surface water, and (potentially) drinking water
supplies. Do not mix used antifreeze with engine oil or
other wastes.
Disclaimer
Dilute and Flush
Flushing used antifreeze down
the drain is the least-preferred disposal option, but it may be the
only option available in some areas. Your wastewater
treatment facility should be contacted to ensure that they can
accept the waste prior to using this method.
Although antifreeze is biodegradable, households on septic systems should NOT dispose of antifreeze down
the drain. If your home is
connected to a septic tank, give this product to someone who is
connected to a municipal sewer system. Even in a diluted
form, antifreeze can overwhelm and destroy the bacterial action in your
septic system and drain field.
Procedures include:
-
Provide adequate ventilation by opening
windows and doors and/or turning on a room fan.
-
Wear protective clothing such as chemical
resistant gloves, eye protection and long sleeves.
-
Carefully pour about 1
gallon of diluted antifreeze down the sink, flushing with large amounts of
water. Failure to dilute antifreeze may damage pipes or other parts of your
plumbing.
-
Continue disposing in 1 gallon batches until completely gone. Don't mix products, and
wait several hours between disposing of different types of
products.
-
The best time to do this is
during the working day when the sewage system is in full use
so that this material passes through the municipal sewage system
faster.
These procedures are intended for small quantities of used antifreeze
from a household only.
Back
to table
