Halogen

The EPA uses halogen as the standard because "listed" spent halogenated solvents are commonly found mixed with used oil. Batches of used oil must be tested to analyze their total halogen levels. The level of total halogens is used as the standard to determine how the batch of oil must be managed, as follows:

• If a batch of used oil has less than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of total halogens, the EPA allows the oil to be managed as used oil.
• If the batch of used oil has more than 1,000 ppm of total halogens, the EPA presumes that the used oil has been mixed with a listed hazardous waste. This used oil must be managed under the more stringent RCRA regulations for hazardous waste.

This approach to enforcing the RCRA regulations for used oil management is known as the "rebuttable presumption." Handlers of used oil may rebut the presumption that the used oil is contaminated by providing proof that the used oil does not contain significant concentrated hazardous constituents (as listed in 40 CFR 261, Appendix VIII).

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.