Minnesota Regulations for Waste Vegetable Oil

As of 2010, the State of Minnesota does not have regulations governing waste vegetable oil, but large quantities of it must be stored in tanks and then are subject to state tank storage rules and federal regulations. Small household quantities can be thrown into the trash or recycled with a number of companies in the state.

State Tank Storage Regulations

• Minnesota Administrative Rules, Chapters 7150 and 7151, stipulate regulations for new and existing above-ground tanks, underground tanks, their operation and maintenance, release detection methods and withdrawal from service. The rule is intended to "provide for the protection of the public health and the environment by establishing uniform performance standards and technical requirements for aboveground (sic) storage of liquid substances which may cause pollution of waters of the state," according to the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes' website.

Recycling

• High interest in the environment in Minnesota has yielded oil recycling companies.

  A number of companies in Minnesota recycle oil for restaurants and other businesses. Hitek Resources Inc. developed a process to use waste vegetable oil as a source for the esters that replace petroleum-based products.

Federal Regulations

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's requirements for non-transportation-related facilities with an above-ground oil storage capacity of greater than 1,320 gallons apply to Minnesota waste vegetable oil storage. The federal regulations are covered in the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure plans.