Used oil is generated by laboratories from vacuum pumps and other lab equipment as well as from Technology Programs and general campus operations. Used oil should not be mixed with any other chemical wastes. This allows the university to segregate and recycle the oil as well as operate with less stringent regulations.

Used oil should be clearly labeled with the words “used oil." Do not use any other words in place of used, such as "spent" or "waste." EHS can provide used oil labels which should be placed on all containers used for used oil accumulation. Containers can also be stenciled using the words "used oil." Generators of used oil should inform EHS if the used oil could contain PCBs. PCBs are poly-chlorinated biphenyls and were often present in older pieces of electrical machinery.