Used oil is one of the most common wastes at auto workshops, oil change shops, fuel stations, factories and heavy equipment yards, and one of the first things an environmental inspector asks about. The rule is simple: no drains, no soil, no general waste. Used oil is stored safely, handed only to a licensed carrier, and every handover is documented. This article follows used oil from the workshop to the licensed carrier and explains what the Waste Management Law and the Environment Law regulations say.
Is used oil hazardous waste?
The Waste Management Law defines hazardous waste as waste classified as hazardous under the law and its regulation, from industrial or non-industrial activities, containing toxic or flammable materials, solvents, degreasers, oils, or acids and alkalis. Used oil, oil filters and oil-contaminated parts therefore follow the hazardous waste path, not the general waste one.
Stage one: storage on site
- Sealed containers or drums in good condition, used only for used oil.
- A floor that does not allow leaks, with drums ideally on a containment tray.
- A covered area away from heat sources and rainwater drainage paths.
- No mixing of used oil with solvents, coolants or water, which makes treatment harder and may change its classification.
- Oil filters, rags and contaminated parts collected separately in closed containers.
- A clear "used oil" label on every container.
The Waste Management Law requires waste producers to store waste in designated places according to the regulation's conditions, and prohibits leaving, burying, burning or dumping waste outside designated places.
Stage two: choosing the carrier
The law states that no waste management activity may be carried out without a license or permit from the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN). A provider licensed to transport hazardous waste must use vehicles meeting MWAN's specifications, display warning signs and carry the required hazardous waste documents, and MWAN's collection and transport conditions prohibit carriers from delivering hazardous waste to unlicensed facilities.
Most importantly for the workshop or factory owner, the law states that anyone who deposits waste with a person not licensed to receive it is jointly liable with that person for the resulting damages and compensation. Selling used oil to an unlicensed buyer does not transfer your responsibility.
Stage three: the transport document and records
The law defines the transport document as the form set by the competent authority to track waste from the point of generation to storage, treatment or safe disposal, and service providers must complete the register and transport document. Keep in your environmental records, for every handover:
- Date, quantity and type of waste (oil, filters, contaminated parts).
- The carrier's name and license number.
- A copy of the transport document or receipt.
Why documentation matters so much
Because the inspector asks one question: where did your used oil go? The only acceptable answer is a document from a licensed carrier. Under the Inspection and Audit Regulation, inspectors may review environmental records and take samples, and including incorrect information in reports is prohibited. Self-monitoring reports and environmental audit studies also review waste quantities and disposal routes.
What penalties apply?
- Storing, burning, treating, dumping or disposing of waste in a way that endangers public health or harms the environment: imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of up to SAR 30 million, or either, decided by the competent court.
- Other violations of the law, its regulation and license or permit conditions: a fine of up to SAR 10 million, suspension of the license or permit for up to six months, or its cancellation, doubled for a repeat within three years.
The violator must also remove the effects of the violation, rehabilitate and pay compensation. Oil leaking into soil may also require a contaminated site remediation plan under the Rehabilitation Regulation.
Checklist for a workshop or station
- Closed drums on containment in a covered area.
- Filters and contaminated parts in separate containers.
- A contract with an MWAN-licensed carrier and its license number on file.
- A transport document for every handover in the environmental records.
- No discharge of oil or oily wash water into drains.
Frequently Asked Questions about Used Oil
Can I sell used oil to any buyer?
It must go to a carrier or facility licensed by MWAN. Handing it to an unlicensed party makes you jointly liable for any damage, and you will not be able to prove its fate at inspection.
Are oil filters general waste?
No. They are contaminated with oil, collected separately and handed to a licensed carrier like the oil itself.
How long should I keep handover documents?
At least for the whole validity of the permit, because they are requested at inspection and feed into reports and the renewal audit.
What if oil spills onto soil?
Contain it immediately, collect the contaminated soil as hazardous waste, notify NCEC once contamination is detected as the soil regulation requires, and document what you did.
How Abak Green helps
We set up used oil and waste management at your facility: organizing the storage area, record templates, verifying the carrier's license, and including it all in your environmental management plan and compliance reports. Contact us about your workshop or facility.
