When Your Car is Leaking Oil On The Street, Remember It's Not Just Leaking Oil On The Street

Leaking oil goes from your car onto the street. Rain washes oil into storm drains and into the nearby streams and rivers. Now, imagine the number of cars in our region and you can imagine the amount of oil that finds its way into our local waterways. So please, maintain your car and always recycle used motor oil.

 

What You Can Do:

- Check your car or truck for drips and oil leaks regularly and fix them promptly. Keep your vehicle tuned to reduce oil use.

- Use ground cloths or drip pans under your vehicle if you have leaks or are doing engine work. Clean up spills immediately and properly dispose of clean up materials.

- Collect all used oil in containers with tight-fitting lids. Old plastic jugs are excellent for this purpose.

- Do not mix waste oil with gasoline, solvents, or other engine fluids. This contaminates the oil which may be reused, increases the volume of the waste, and may form a more hazardous chemical.

- Never dump motor oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid or other engine fluids into road gutters, down the storm drain or catch basin, onto the ground, or into a ditch.

- Recycle used motor oil. Many auto supply stores, car care centers, and gas stations will accept used oil. Many communities have hazardous waste collection days where used oil can be brought in for proper disposal. Recycling just one gallon of used oil can generate enough electricity to run the average household for almost 24 hours.

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Additional Information:  chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://cfpub.epa.gov/npstbx/files/psatautooil.pdf​

For more information in your local area scroll below to find your participating government agency.

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WHAT IS LITTER?

Litter is defined by Tennessee law as perishable animal and vegetable waste, garbage, perishable and nonperishable solid waste and tobacco products.

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TENNESSEE LITTER LAWS

Section 39-14-503. (a) Mitigated criminal littering is littering in an amount less than or equal to five pounds (5 lbs.) in weight or seven and one-half (7.5) cubic feet in volume. 

• criminal littering is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)

Section 39-14-504. (a) Criminal littering is littering in an amount more than five pounds (5 lbs.) in weight or seven and one-half (7.5) cubic feet in volume and less than or equal to ten pounds (10 Ibs.) in weight or fifteen (15) cubic feet in volume.

• littering is a Class B misdemeanor, up to a $500 fine

• In addition to the penalties established in this section, the court shall require a person convicted under this part to remove litter from the state or local highway system, public playgrounds, public parks or other appropriate public locations for not more than eighty (80) hours. The court, in its discretion, may also a person convicted under this section to work in a recycling center or other appropriate location for any stated period of time not to exceed eight (8) hours.

Section 39-14-505. (a) Aggravated criminal littering is littering:

• In an amount exceeding ten pounds (10 lbs.) in weight or fifteen (15) cubic feet in volume; or

• In any amount for any commercial purpose

•  Aggravated criminal littering is a Class A misdemeanor, except in the following circumstances, in which case it is a Class E felony, up to a $1,500 fine.

 

Tennessee Toll-Free Litter Hotline
1-877-8-LITTER PROVIDES MOTORISTS A WAY TO REPORT LITTER BUGS

Tennesseans who are tired of trash along state roadways now have a new tool to report litter bugs. The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced today a new toll-free litter hotline, 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837). The litter hotline is part of the statewide anti-litter campaign. The hotline provides a way for Tennesseans to report people they witness littering along the state’s roadways, such as a person throwing a paper cup or cigarette butt out of a window, or an item falling from an unsecured load.

“The new toll-free litter hotline gives citizens the ability to Stop It,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Now anyone who witnesses a person littering can report it and trigger action to improve the quality of the environment and the cleanliness of our roadways. Tennessee has some of the best roads in the nation. With everyone’s help, we can have some of the cleanest, too.”

Citizens who witness a litter bug in action can call 1-877-8-LITTER (877-854-8837). Callers will reach a recording that asks them to provide information about the vehicle. The information that will be requested includes:

• license plate number (Tennessee plates only)

• type and make of the vehicle

• day and time the incident occurred

• location where the incident occurred

• the type of item tossed or blown from the vehicle

TDOT will mail a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle along with a car trash bag or portable ashtray and other anti-litter information. The letter is a gentle reprimand reminding the recipient that littering is against the law and punishable by a fine of up to $1500.

 

Click here for more information.

https://nobodytrashestennessee.com/the-top-roadside-litter-laws-you-should-know-in-tennessee/