Fuel / oil pollution / spills

Fuel / oil spills on a road

If you notice a fuel / oil spill on a road please contact the Department for Infrastructure on +44 (0) 1534 445509 who can arrange warning signage and apply absorbents. If the spill covers a large area (ie the spill will impact road safety) please contact the Police +44 (0) 1534 612612.

Oil spills of private supplies

If an oil spill occurs, you should:

• contain leaks where possible
• prevent oil from entering drains or watercourses by using earth or sand to absorb it
• collect and dispose of contaminated materials correctly in order to reduce the risk of further pollution
• never wash oil into the drainage system or use detergents to disperse it
• notify your oil supplier immediately in the case of spills from oil tanks
• report any spillages to Environmental Protection via the hotline +44 (0) 1534 709535

Oil tanks and oil storage

If you have an oil tank, then you should ensure that you follow these general guidelines to reduce the risk of an oil spill occurring:

• tanks should be sited at ground level on a flat base in a safe and secure area protected from accidental impact and damage, with easy access for deliveries and maintenance
• an OFTEC (Oil Fired Technician) registered technician should carry out tank installation and decommissioning
• the oil tanks should be type tested to a recognised standard and obtained from a reputable manufacturer
• if possible avoid sitting the tank within 10m of a watercourse, or within 50m of a borehole or well
• regularly inspect your tank, bund and pipework for signs of corrosion, splitting and damage

Disposal of unwanted oil storage tanks

Anyone wishing to dispose of an unwanted or faulty oil tank at the Energy from Waste Plant are asked to adhere to the following guidance to ensure best environmental practice.

Guidance for the disposal of oil tanks at the Department for Infrastructure's Energy from Waste Plant

Pollution prevention checklist

There are many steps that you can take to prevent pollution, including:

• never disposing of oil into a drain
• contacting the Department for Infrastructure for advice on disposal of used oils
• storing used oils in their original containers wherever possible. They should be clearly labelled and stored away from potential damage, corrosion or vandalism
• soaking up small amounts of cooking oil (vegetable-based, not animal-based) with bread and using it as bird food

 Oil pollution leaflet