| dc.description.abstract | Petroleum industry has grown at a faster rate since its inception although wastes resulting from
this industry presents a critical anthropogenic environmental pollution. Used engine oil as one
petroleum wastes drained from automobile engine exhibit properties that are a hazard to human
health and environment.
This study investigates generation, handling, disposal and awareness about effects of used
engine oil among motorcyclists and motorcycle garages. The data for this study were collected
using questionnaires, interview guide and observation where 25 garages from four villages in
south of Kawempe division were administered with semi structured questionnaires and 40
motorcyclists as well were reached using interview guide. The results of this study reveal that
significant large amount of used engine oil is generated by motorcycles mostly at motorcycle
garages that every day on average each garage collects mostly five to six litres or 9 litres and
above.
All motorcycle garages had their working places unroofed, bare soil contaminated with waste
oil spills, moreover only 12% did sometimes clean oil spills.
Most motorcyclists and garage mechanics are not aware of used engine oil effects, provisions
for recycling, and petroleum waste management regulations. This has caused most motorcycle
garages to dispose their collected used engine oil in undesirable way that exposes used engine
oil toxic components to human health and environment. In fact, over 88% of motorcycle
garages did sell to unauthorized oil buyers, 4% gave it freely and another 4% did pour to
environment.
To help address this problem, government should establish and enforce good housekeeping
practices concerning management of used engine oil as mandatory to all automobile repair
garages. Also, NEMA as mandated in petroleum waste management regulations should certify
all waste oil handlers including garages, oil buyers, filling stations and recyclers | en_US |
