| Peer-Reviewed

Used Oil Storage and Disposal Practices in Automobile Repair Garages in Ghana

Received: 6 June 2015    Accepted: 21 June 2015    Published: 4 July 2015
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

This study investigates the used oil storage and disposal practices in automobile repair garages in Ghana. The data for the study were collected using questionnaire, observations and personal discussions. One hundred and fifty informal sector garages and 100 formal sector garages made up the analyzed sample size. The results of the analysis reveal that a very large majority of the auto repair garages in the country lack used oil storage and disposal standards. Also, the garages do not organize training programs to educate and sensitize the mechanics about the health and environmental hazards of used oils. Again, proper used oil storage and disposal practices are virtually absent in the auto repair garages, coupled with lack of licensed used oil collection centers, transporters and recyclers in the country. This therefore, has caused used oil generators in the country to engage in an undesirable used oil disposal practices which pollute the environment excessively. To help address this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Ghana’s by-laws on used oil handling and disposal practices must be vigorously enforced. The EPA must also intensify its visits to the garages to educate and sensitize them on proper used oil storage and disposal practices. The Government, the Banks, philanthropies and wealthy individuals in the country should help establish used oil collection centers in the country to enable the mechanics sell off their generated used oils for recycling. Government must assistant the endowed garages in the country to enable them develop the capability to recycle their generated used oils. This will help create more jobs and enhance the revenue base of government as a result of cut downs on the importations of virgin motor oils into the country.

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23
Page(s) 191-201
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Used Oil, Storage, Disposal, Automobile Repair Garages, Ghana

References
[1] Waste Oil Study Report to Congress, Prepared by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, USA, 1974
[2] W.A. Irwin ,1978, Used oil: Comparative Legislative Controls of Collection, Recycling, and Disposal, pp.703-705
[3] S. Jhanani, J. Kurian, Used oil Generation and Manage ment in Automotive Industries, Environmental Assessment of Used Oil, vol. 2, 2011, pp. 135-138
[4] B.O. Okonokhua, B. Ikhajiagbe, G.O. Anoliefo, and T.O. Emed, “The Effects of Spent Engine Oil on Soil Properties and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.)” 2007, pp. 147 - 152
[5] M.A. Nwachukwu, J. Alinnor, and H. Feng, “Review and Assessment of Mechanic Village Potentials for Small Scale Used Engine Oil Recycling Business, 2012, pp.465-474
[6] H. Mensah-Brown, “Optimization of the Production of Lubricating Oil Using Response Surface Methodology”, 2013, pp. 749-756
[7] J. Powell, “Survey of Engineering Manufacturing Industries in Ghana. Technology and Enterprise Development Project”. A Report of DFID, London, UK. 1995.
[8] I.R. Levin, “Qualitative Approach to Management”, McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 1989
[9] RCRA In Focus, “Vehicle Maintenance”, 1999
[10] Study.com, “Automechanic Training Programs and Requirements”, 2015
[11] ModernGhana, Daily Graphic/Ghana, “Waste Dis-posal by Garages Endangers Public Health”, 2013
[12] Francis Donkor, Department of Technology Education, University of Education, Winneba “Enhancing Apprenticeship Training in Ghana Through Distance Learning”,2006
[13] USEPA, “Managing Used Oil: Advice for Small Business”, 2015
[14] USEPA, “Standards for the Management of Used Oil, Part 280, 2015
[15] EPA, “Guides to Pollution Prevention, the Automotive Repair Industry”, 1991
[16] M. G. Elnour, H.A. Laz, “Clean Production in Autorepair Workshops”, 2013, pp. 66-77
[17] D.V. Jacobs, “How to Design and build your AutoWorkshop, publish. motorbooks intern, USA, 1998
[18] Ohio EPA, , “The Regulation of Used Oil: An Overview for Ohio Businesses who generate Used Oil”, 2015
[19] R. Arner, 2012, Used Oil Recycling in America
[20] The State of the Ghanaian Economy in 2013. Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon, 2014.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Akpakpavi Michael. (2015). Used Oil Storage and Disposal Practices in Automobile Repair Garages in Ghana. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 3(4), 191-201. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Akpakpavi Michael. Used Oil Storage and Disposal Practices in Automobile Repair Garages in Ghana. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2015, 3(4), 191-201. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Akpakpavi Michael. Used Oil Storage and Disposal Practices in Automobile Repair Garages in Ghana. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2015;3(4):191-201. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23,
      author = {Akpakpavi Michael},
      title = {Used Oil Storage and Disposal Practices in Automobile Repair Garages in Ghana},
      journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {191-201},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20150304.23},
      abstract = {This study investigates the used oil storage and disposal practices in automobile repair garages in Ghana. The data for the study were collected using questionnaire, observations and personal discussions. One hundred and fifty informal sector garages and 100 formal sector garages made up the analyzed sample size. The results of the analysis reveal that a very large majority of the auto repair garages in the country lack used oil storage and disposal standards. Also, the garages do not organize training programs to educate and sensitize the mechanics about the health and environmental hazards of used oils. Again, proper used oil storage and disposal practices are virtually absent in the auto repair garages, coupled with lack of licensed used oil collection centers, transporters and recyclers in the country. This therefore, has caused used oil generators in the country to engage in an undesirable used oil disposal practices which pollute the environment excessively. To help address this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Ghana’s by-laws on used oil handling and disposal practices must be vigorously enforced. The EPA must also intensify its visits to the garages to educate and sensitize them on proper used oil storage and disposal practices. The Government, the Banks, philanthropies and wealthy individuals in the country should help establish used oil collection centers in the country to enable the mechanics sell off their generated used oils for recycling. Government must assistant the endowed garages in the country to enable them develop the capability to recycle their generated used oils. This will help create more jobs and enhance the revenue base of government as a result of cut downs on the importations of virgin motor oils into the country.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Used Oil Storage and Disposal Practices in Automobile Repair Garages in Ghana
    AU  - Akpakpavi Michael
    Y1  - 2015/07/04
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23
    T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
    JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
    JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
    SP  - 191
    EP  - 201
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7420
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150304.23
    AB  - This study investigates the used oil storage and disposal practices in automobile repair garages in Ghana. The data for the study were collected using questionnaire, observations and personal discussions. One hundred and fifty informal sector garages and 100 formal sector garages made up the analyzed sample size. The results of the analysis reveal that a very large majority of the auto repair garages in the country lack used oil storage and disposal standards. Also, the garages do not organize training programs to educate and sensitize the mechanics about the health and environmental hazards of used oils. Again, proper used oil storage and disposal practices are virtually absent in the auto repair garages, coupled with lack of licensed used oil collection centers, transporters and recyclers in the country. This therefore, has caused used oil generators in the country to engage in an undesirable used oil disposal practices which pollute the environment excessively. To help address this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Ghana’s by-laws on used oil handling and disposal practices must be vigorously enforced. The EPA must also intensify its visits to the garages to educate and sensitize them on proper used oil storage and disposal practices. The Government, the Banks, philanthropies and wealthy individuals in the country should help establish used oil collection centers in the country to enable the mechanics sell off their generated used oils for recycling. Government must assistant the endowed garages in the country to enable them develop the capability to recycle their generated used oils. This will help create more jobs and enhance the revenue base of government as a result of cut downs on the importations of virgin motor oils into the country.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Mechanical Engineering Department, Accra Polytechnic, Accra, Ghana

  • Sections