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Correct way to dispose of Coolant/Antifreeze

Arfa__
Arfa__ Posts: 584 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
I recent did some routine maintenance on my motorbike, part of which was flushing the coolant (along with some RadFlush as it hadn't been done in a number of years). As such, I now have 4-5 litres of anti-freeze/water mix.

All very well, but when I took the waste Coolant to my local recycling centre (Fritzlands in Barking & Dagenham), I was told they don't accept anti-freeze. On contacting the local borough council, I was just sent an email explaining the local recycling centre doesn't accept anti-freeze and no other suggestions. I guess I could try recycling further afield, but most will only accept drop off's from local residents, correct?

Obviously, I don't really want to go tipping it down the drain. So does anyone have any suggestions on where I can safely and correctly dispose of it?
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Comments

  • Herzlos
    Herzlos Posts: 15,395 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Any scrap yards or garages near you? They must have to dispose of a lot of it, though it'll probably cost you.
  • molerat
    molerat Posts: 33,530 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 22 July 2014 am31 9:19AM
    I love the way all these pet charities go on about the dangers of anti freeze and blandly state "dispose of it safely" without any indication of what a safe method is. Most of the motoring forums say pour it into the sewer system via the sink / toilet - not into ground drains such as the road or gutter drains which soak away directly into the ground or water courses - as there are very few places that will take it. Maybe the law should be changed so that if you sell it you have to take it back.
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    They may charge a small fee, but garages and some scrappies will accept it.
  • pvt
    pvt Posts: 1,433 Forumite
    Is it really harmful to the environment if it is flushed down the loo? That's certainly what I would do with it.

    I love the idea it could be more harmful than the thousands of tons of bleach that get poured down people's bogs each year!

    If you're really worried just leave it outside, but under cover, in a bucket - it'll evaporate away in a matter of weeks. Alternatively, if that's too slow for you, light a fire under it and boil it away!
    Optimists see a glass half full :)
    Pessimists see a glass half empty :(
    Engineers just see a glass twice the size it needed to be :D
  • Mankysteve
    Mankysteve Posts: 4,257 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I would stick down the loo as long as your main sewers and not a septic tank ect. It will be massively water downed in the sewer system anyway.
  • facade
    facade Posts: 7,381 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pvt wrote: »
    If you're really worried just leave it outside, but under cover, in a bucket - it'll evaporate away in a matter of weeks.


    Make sure that children/doggies/foxes/hedgehogs can't get to it, as they will drink it and die, because it is sweet tasting & smelling.


    I'd just flush it down the toilet, say half a litre a week so as not to upset the microbes that break down the waste- they have enough to deal with with all the bleach and alcohol. I doubt if one persons antifreeze will cause a problem, wheras 100 might.;)
    I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....

    (except air quality and Medical Science ;))
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,567 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Home Insurance Hacker!
    Some local councils do arrange for haz waste to be collected FOC. The Corporation of London organises a service on behalf of the London Boroughs, but it is up to each Borough to decide whether or not to subscribe to the service. Unfortunately, LBBD don't offer this service for householders.

    Interestingly though, if you see any haz waste that has been abandoned on the street, you can report it to the council and they will ensure it is disposed of correctly.

    Flytipping is a crime of course, but LBBD's policy just seems to encourage it!

    http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/Environment/RecyclingandRefuse/Pages/Poisonouswaste.aspx
  • Gavin83
    Gavin83 Posts: 8,757 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Flush it down the toilet. Simple disposal.

    It's easier to get rid of than oil, although most tips will happily accept oil.
  • phill99
    phill99 Posts: 9,093 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I've got a bit of waste land at the back of my house and chuck everything on there. Mind you no plant or animal life has been seen there for 20 years.
    Eat vegetables and fear no creditors, rather than eat duck and hide.
  • facade
    facade Posts: 7,381 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    phill99 wrote: »
    I've got a bit of waste land at the back of my house and chuck everything on there. Mind you no plant or animal life has been seen there for 20 years.

    That is what everyone did in The Olden Days :eek:, including factories, gasworks, chemical plants etc.

    Now they build houses on the old sites and people are "surprised" when someone finds the soil in which little Johnny (the one with 2 heads now, the flaking skin and the strange cough) has been digging, is dangerously polluted.

    Whenever you buy a house, always check what the land was used for 100 years ago. ;)
    I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....

    (except air quality and Medical Science ;))
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