Oil Tanks (Home Heating)

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities

How do I go green?

Reduce

Consider solar, electric or other more environmentally sound sources of heat.

Reuse

Do not re-use oil tanks for home heating oil because the tank may be compromised.  It might look good on the outside but could be corroded on the inside.  We strongly recommend contacting a professional tank removal company.  This is not a job to do yourself.  We also recommend against attempting to re-use the tank as a planter or pond because the process of cleaning out oil tanks renders toxic oily water that must be disposed of as hazardous waste - do not pour this oil down the drain.  The companies you purchased the oil from may take back any un-used oil.  We accept small residential quantities of home heating oil at the Hartland recycling area as household hazardous waste.

Recycle

Once emptied of all oil and oil residue, home heating oil tanks can and must be recycled as scrap metal.  Be sure to cut a hole in the tank that is at least 12 inches square so the metal recycling facility staff can have a look inside to ensure the tank is empty.  Go to Metal for a list of metal recycling facilities.
Hiring a professional tank company for removals and clean-ups is strongly recommended. Find them in the yellow pages under Oil Tanks – Installation, Cleaning and Removal.
The BC Fire Code requires the removal of buried tanks which are of no further use, or have not been used for two years. Once a tank is removed, the surrounding soil must be assessed for contamination. Any contamination must be cleaned up by a contractor. You will need a permit from your local Fire Department to remove a buried oil tank. 
If the tank is unused or abandoned, any remaining heating oil should be removed by a qualified contractor and taken to an approved facility such as Tervita Waste Management for disposal.