Environmental Services

Como Lube & Supplies, Inc. is your trusted provider of comprehensive environmental services in Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We specialize in a wide range of waste collection and processing solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our services include the collection, transportation, recycling, and if needed disposal of various types of waste, ensuring that your environmental impact is minimized. With a commitment to sustainability and regulatory compliance, we offer customized solutions to help businesses and communities manage their waste efficiently and responsibly. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing top-quality service and support, making us the go-to choice for environmental services in the region.

 

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Oil on gears

Used Oil Management

Como Lube and Supplies, Inc. operates a fleet of bulk vehicles dedicated to the management of used oil. We specialize in crankcase, hydraulic, transmission and gear oils. We manage nearly one million gallons of used oil every year.

Como has developed one of the top used oil management programs in the nation by helping reduce generator liability through tracking, analysis, and regulatory compliance. Como also maintains the highest levels of financial assurances that include general liability insurance and pollution prevention insurance.

Our flexible service eliminates hassles and potential downtime. Whether you need scheduled, unscheduled or emergency oil collection, we’ll be there. From bulk to drums, when you partner with Como, you join our team of professionals dedicated to both your business and our environment. We handled all your waste stream management issues in full compliance with all Federal, State and Local regulations. This relieves you of the environmental burden and keeps your future protected.

coolant being poored into a, environmentally friendly container

Used Antifreeze Management

Como Lube and Supplies, Inc. manages nearly 250,000 gallons of spent antifreeze each year. We provide a sound alternative for our customers who want to protect the environment from the toxic effects of the ethylene glycol in the antifreeze. As with most of our waste management activities, resource recovery is the focus of our management of used antifreeze.

Como accepts non-hazardous used antifreeze. Como provides a labeled drum or bulk tank for proper storage and transportation. A collection shipping paper is created and a copy is left with the generator. The used antifreeze is then consolidated at the nearest Como facility where it is consolidated for shipment to a used antifreeze recycling plant for the sole purpose of recycling into new ASTM specification antifreeze.

hand holding an air filter

Used Oil Filter Management

Como Lube and Supplies, Inc. offers customers an environmentally friendly filter-recycling program that protects them from the long-term liability of sending the filters to a landfill or other so-called “recycling” processes. Every part of the filter is recycled along with the residual wastes associated with processing them.

Como accepts Non-terne plated steel spin-on automotive and truck filters. Como provides approved lock top drums for proper storage and transportation. A collection shipping paper is created and a copy is left with the generator. The used oil filters are then consolidated at the nearest Como facility and transported to our fully automated filter processor. Using a crushing force of hundreds of thousands pounds, a uniformly dense brick is produced with maximum oil removed. They are then transported to steel smelters where the steel and filter element are recycled.

Remember, in Minnesota and Wisconsin, recycling used motor oil and oil filters isn’t just a good idea – it’s the law! You are responsible for the waste from the “cradle” – the time the waste is first generated to the “grave” – the time the waste reaches final disposal, and sometimes beyond.

While this method of management is slightly more costly than other forms of filter management, this method fully protects our customers from long-term liability by ensuring that no part of the filter goes to the landfill.

oil absorbents

Used Oil Absorbents

Como accepts used oil absorbents, rags, pads, booms, and other spill/leak products. Como provides a labeled, lock top drums for proper storage and transportation. A collection shipping paper is created and a copy is left with the generator. The used oil absorbent is then consolidated at the nearest Como facility. The used oil absorbent is then transported on shipping papers to an authorized recycler and preferred vendor by the State of Minnesota, where it is used for fuel recovery.

hand cleaning used oil parts

Parts Cleaning Services

Como Lube and Supplies, Inc. began providing its customers with parts cleaning services in 1978. The core of the program incorporates mineral spirits cleaning solutions with the highest quality equipment. Como personnel only manage the mineral spirits in a closed-loop system.

When the product becomes spent, it is properly packaged, labeled and loaded onto Como’s vehicle. Como reclaims the spent material in a distillation system at our Duluth facilities. We safely reclaim nearly a half million gallons of our customers’ spent mineral spirits each year.

Como offers a variety of sizes and styles of parts cleaning equipment for solvent-based cleaning applications. This equipment can be leased or purchased. If the lease option is chosen, Como will maintain the equipment to ensure that your parts cleaning needs are met. In addition, we can provide service on any type of equipment that you may already own.

person in a hazmat suit

Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Wastes

The proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is critical to a company’s survival in this age of growing regulation. Como puts its customers’ minds at ease with programs that help ensure the avoidance of long-term liability associated with the handling of their waste streams.

Como is a fully licensed transporter of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. We have researched many alternatives for the management of these wastes and can offer the safest, most economical alternatives to our customers. Trained Como personnel can safely package, label, and transport these waste streams.

Various non-hazardous liquid, sludge, and solid waste streams are typically transported to our Duluth or Hugo facilities and safely stored until they are transported to an appropriate treatment or disposal facility. We are equipped to handle a wide range of automotive and industrial wastes. Our personnel can aid in properly characterizing these wastes and making recommendations on appropriate treatment options.

Our staff is HazMat trained and available on short notice to meet with you on site, to provide an approved plan and quote for material removal. No need to worry about where those materials will end up. All items will be properly containerized and disposed of by PCA-approved methods. We consistently exceed regulatory guidelines and requirements for environmental protection. Como will make running your business easier by keeping up with all permits, rules, regulations, and reports required for compliance with Federal, State and Local requirements, which can help avoid unnecessary fines.

Wastes are classified as “hazardous” if they have certain dangerous properties (for instance, if they are flammable, corrosive, or toxic). Wastes can also be automatically classified as hazardous if they are produced in certain manufacturing processes.

If you are managing the waste as hazardous, here are some of the main rules:

  • You are responsible for the waste from the “cradle” – the time the waste is first generated – to the “grave” – the time the waste reaches final disposal, and sometimes beyond.
  • You can only store the waste for a limited time on your site before sending it to an approved hazardous waste facility. (The time limit will depend on how much hazardous waste you generate.)
  • You have to use a licensed waste hauler (Como) to transport the waste off your site.
  • You have to keep a record (called a “shipping manifest”) of the shipment for a specified period of time.
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