Management of used engine oil among motorcyclists and motorcycle repair garages in south of Kawempe division. Kampala district

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