Is it OK to pour antifreeze down the drain?

Do not pour your waste antifreeze down the drain. Do not pour your antifreeze outside on the ground. Take your old, used, or tainted antifreeze to a local recycling center, service station, or auto parts shop.

Can I pour antifreeze down the toilet?

It is now illegal to dump antifreeze down drains, into toilets, or discharge it into a sewer.

Is antifreeze safe to dump on the ground?

In California, it is illegal to dispose of antifreeze in the trash, ground, or storm drains. The Department of Toxic Substances (DTSC) regulates antifreeze, because it is hazardous to public health and the environment. Antifreeze is a mixture of water (3%), additives (2%), and ethylene or propylene glycol (95%).

Is antifreeze considered hazardous waste?

Many cleaning and maintenance products are considered hazardous waste such as antifreeze, lead-acid batteries, used oil and oil filters, oil/fuel saturated absorbents, solvents, paints, zincs, varnishes and cleaning products.

Can you dump RV antifreeze in a septic system?

Automotive antifreeze, which is made of ethylene glycol cannot be put in septic systems. Ethylene glycol, which makes up automotive antifreeze, is very poisonous. It should never be dumped on the ground or left where animals can get to it. It is also damaging to a septic system.

Does antifreeze biodegrade?

Both propylene glycol and ethylene glycol are biodegradable and will soon break down into carbon dioxide and water.

Can I pour ethylene glycol down the drain?

The main ingredient in antifreeze is usually ethylene glycol, which also acts as a lubricant and anti-corrosive agent—a toxic chemical that cannot be poured down the drain, toilet, sewer, or thrown in the trash.

What should you do with antifreeze?

To avoid spills, antifreeze should be stored in a safe, sealable container. Dispose of your antifreeze at a service station, recycling center or auto parts shop. Many service stations, recycling centers and auto parts shops will get rid of antifreeze, and they’re the safest means of disposal.

What antifreeze is safe for septic systems?

The propylene glycol or ethanol used in RV antifreeze, however, are both safe for your septic system and won’t cause any damage when used in appropriate quantities.

How do I get rid of RV antifreeze?

Simply sprinkle baking soda directly into each drain or dissolve it in water and pour it down the drains. Flush the system again until the water tastes clean. Instead of using your RV water pump to flush antifreeze from your camper’s water system, you can also use a garden hose or city water supply.

How long does it take to drain coolant?

A trained mechanic can perform a radiator flush in about 30 minutes using a commercial coolant flush and fill machine. Without a machine, a radiator flush takes about two hours. You’ll need to allow additional time for any other services performed at the same time, such as radiator leak repair or inspection.

Does coolant evaporate?

No, antifreeze does not evaporate. At least, it doesn’t evaporate in the same sense that water evaporates. That’s because antifreeze contains several chemical properties that are unable to evaporate well.

Does antifreeze hurt grass?

The main ingredient in most antifreeze products is a potent viscous, colorless liquid called ethylene glycol, although other contaminants can also be harmful. If antifreeze leaks out of engines or storage containers or spills on grass, it is often toxic and can hinder lawn and plant growth or kill plants outright.

How do you dispose of large amounts of glycol?

Dilute it and pour it down the sewer. Instead, call your local wastewater treatment facility and ask if it’s okay to dispose of glycol into a municipal sewer system. If they allow, pour a small amount at a time.