Kerosene is petroleum derivative and mainly used, in this age, to power industrial and commercial engines. It's also a very cheap way of removing grease from engine parts. Kerosene used to be popular in the 1800s to fuel lamps for lighting, before the invention of electricity.
If you have stumbled across some old kerosene and want to get rid of it; you will first want to establish how old it is and what condition it's in. If you happened to find a very old lamp that contains kerosene or have a bottle of kerosene, you will want to either attempt to sell it or recycle it.
Disposing of Kerosene
Kerosene is considered hazardous waste by most countries. This means when disposing of it you look to do so in a responsible non harmful manner; as it's not only harmful to the environment but also humans and animals.
You will want to find a local recycling centre or a facility in your area that accepts hazardous waste. They will be able to recycle and possibly purify the kerosene so it can be reused. This is normally done by boiling said fuel until the impurities are dissolved.
If you found the kerosene in a bottle, make sure to keep it pure and not mix any other fuels or liquids in with it. This way the chances of it being reusable are much higher.
If you are unable to find any local recycling centres to take your kerosene to, you can also try reaching out to local automotive shops to see if they have any use for it. Some places will accept your kerosene to be used for cleaning engine parts.
If all else fails and none of the above are options are viable; rather than throwing it out in the trash or on the ground which is highly damaging to the environment, you can evaporate it. This isn't something that is particularly eco friendly but it is the lesser of the two evils. If you only have a small amount of kerosene, you can leave it in a container with its lid open in a well-ventilated area. Make sure to keep this away from human and animal interaction.
Can I pour kerosene on the ground?
No, kerosene is a fuel and considered to be hazardous waste. You should never pour it on the ground or dispose of it in any waterways. It's extremely toxic to the environment and can kill plants as well as wildlife if left. The same goes for waterways; if kerosene makes it into a waterway for every one drop of oil, one million drops of water will become polluted.
What can you do with kerosene?
Kerosene has a wide range of uses due to its low cost and effectiveness. Kerosene can be used for anything from being the fuel in heating and cooking, to being used within an old lamp.
Kerosene is also used by automotive companies as a cleaning agent, as it works well at removing engine grease. As well as being used as jet fuel and many other commercial and industrial engines.
How to dispose of kerosene lamp oil
Many people are stumbling across old kerosene lamps, found within late family members houses, which may still have a bit of kerosene in them.
If this is the case, you will want use the following methods for disposal:
- Contact your local automotive business and see if they can take the kerosene off your hands.
- Contact your local recycle centre and see if they accept fuels & oils.
Old kerosene lamps are considered antiques and there is always someone out there that would love to buy it off of you. After disposal of the kerosene, try and sell it online if you are not interested in keeping it.
