Neighbor Dumping Oil and Engine Coolant

[NETWizz]

Good Morning:

I have a problem with a neighbor. He keeps working on this old Nissan 300zx doing things like an engine rebuild of the top end, changing the friction plates in a differential, swapping it over to a manual transmission etc.

Problem is he keeps pouring used motor oil, gear oil, coolant, brake fluid etc. down a storm drain. I have asked him multiple times not to do that, but he acts like I am nuts even threatening to pour it on my driveway to which I pointed at the security cameras! Now I am not an environmentalist or anything, but I would thing a reasonable person would recycle these fluids taking them to a county disposal site or an autoparts store.

I called the police who told me to stop calling; that it doesn't matter my security camera has caught him in action because they don't enforce that area of law.

I don't want to be a jerk, but shouldn't I call EPA or some state equivalent, so they can tell him to stop it.

 

[nlinecomputers]

If it is a storm drain have you contacted the local authorities that run the sewer lines? You might also contact the local solid waste authorities?. Even the Fire Department. Our local firehouses all have waste collection bins for oil.

 

[nlinecomputers]

If your in Texas: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/compliance/complaints

 

[Markverhyden]

Your state's environmental commission. Pretty certain it's illegal in all 50 to do that.

 

[MichaelBits]

We have local (city) codes and ordinances against such things here. Police don't enforce those, but literally a code enforcement official. He patrols around town looking for violations. He also has a number you can call to report violations.

Perhaps something similar there?

 

[nlinecomputers]

We have local (city) codes and ordinances against such things here. Police don't enforce those, but literally a code enforcement official. He patrols around town looking for violations. He also has a number you can call to report violations.

Perhaps something similar there?

Our county has enforcement for that too. I just looked it up. We have two Texas Peace Officers charge to enforce that. (That means they are ARMED) Which makes sense around here as we are in the oil patch and I am sure illegal dumping on large scale goes on all the time around here. Low population, wide open spaces. Plenty of places to just drive off and dump.

 

[mr m]

I used to do the same back in the day when I did not know any better. It is up to all of us to protect and keep our planet green and healthy for our kids and their kids and their kids...

Give him one more chance. Be honest. Tell him that his actions really bothers you and are illegal. Perhaps offer to take his waste fluids for recycling when you take yours.

I pour all my used petroleum-based fluids into a 5 gallon water jug. When it gets about half full I drive to my local recycling center where they take it all for free. Most local auto repair facilities all burn waste oil to heat their garages and will gladly take whatever quantity you have.

Also pick your battles. Having bad neighbors or bad blood can make your life miserable. I know someone who took a huge financial loss just to move away from the constant arguments and fights.

Your last resort should be to call the local EPA or equivalent.

 

[nlinecomputers]

You could always flick your lit cigarette butt at the storm drain right after he does that.....*runs away*

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

You've got something that has to be handled. First...you have the threat of him saying he'll come dump it in your driveway. Right there I'd have handled it in a way that makes him utterly scared of me. And not allow him to think he has the upper hand. BECAUSE...if you report him, he'll likely know it was you that ratted him out, and now you'll have to watch your back (and your driveway).

Don't let people walk away thinking they got the upper hand. Good luck with the issue.

 

[NETWizz]

Good News. I contacted my City and they put in through to Codes Enforcement, and they told me that there are ordinances they can enforce. I emailed them the videos as proof and told them the address where this occurred and where he lives.

They responded saying, "Thank you. We have what we need and will go take care of it, so it doesn't happen again."

 

[NETWizz]

View attachment 10424

You've got something that has to be handled. First...you have the threat of him saying he'll come dump it in your driveway. Right there I'd have handled it in a way that makes him utterly scared of me. And not allow him to think he has the upper hand. BECAUSE...if you report him, he'll likely know it was you that ratted him out, and now you'll have to watch your back (and your driveway).

Don't let people walk away thinking they got the upper hand. Good luck with the issue.

What way is that you would scare him? He has no job... lives off his Grandmother's money. She bought him a house and he has traded-in his vehicle twice in two years for something different.

It is not like he is worried about a conviction being he has no job that would care and wouldn't likely do any jail time... also I doubt he is worried about a fine... he hasn't ever had the responsibility of having to pay for anything in life.

It is akin to the Government trying to punish a 12 year old who is emancipated.

 

[MichaelBits]

It is not like he is worried about a conviction being he has no job that would care and wouldn't likely do any jail time... also I doubt he is worried about a fine... he hasn't ever had the responsibility of having to pay for anything in life.

Quite possibly true. I know of similar people around here.

Perhaps his grandmother won't appreciate the big fine she receives from his dumping and cuts him off hehe.

 

[Markverhyden]

The unfortunate reality is he'll know who did it. If it was me I'd just ignore him from now on out.

 

[nlinecomputers]

He wasn't talking about the oil. He was talking about the threat. I'm like him. You approach my house carrying anything other than a fruitcake and my double barrel scatter gun will plant your intestines back onto your lawn.

 

[nlinecomputers]

The unfortunate reality is he'll know who did it. If it was me I'd just ignore him from now on out.

This is why you don't confront your neighbors you just report them anonymously.

 

[Markverhyden]

This is why you don't confront your neighbors you just report them anonymously.

Exactly. Sometimes the neighbor IS the fruitcake.

 

[NETWizz]

The unfortunate reality is he'll know who did it. If it was me I'd just ignore him from now on out.

Yes; that's true. I am not asking for much though. If he just behaved like a reasonable person. I get it that a few drips of oil may end up in the driveway etc., but the average person will surely put used motor oil in a container and take it to a recycling facility being it's free to recycle and not much an inconvenience. I don't want the stuff in our drinking water or contaminating rivers, oceans etc.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yes; that's true. I am not asking for much though. If he just behaved like a reasonable person. I get it that a few drips of oil may end up in the driveway etc., but the average person will surely put used motor oil in a container and take it to a recycling facility being it's free to recycle and not much an inconvenience. I don't want the stuff in our drinking water or contaminating rivers, oceans etc.

And you're absolutely correct with that. I'm a huge lover of beaches and oceans and I don't like pollution, I also live in an area where water wells for homes are still very common (and I've had 'em).

As to how to handle "him"...what I meant by the prior statement...I'm not advocating physical violence, but during that initial conversation once he made the claim that he'd just pour it in your driveway...I would have made sure he no longer thought he could safely do that and I'd leave it that way, But I don't know you or your physical stature or personality, I'm 6'5" and ~215lbs and mostly Irish (including that Irish quick temper)..so I can come across as menacing if needed. However we're past that point. And it would keep pissing me off watching him doing that a few times a year. 4 or 5 qts of oil each time..add good rain afterwards...yeah that rainbow slick will spread out pretty darned far in the drains. They come out somewhere....

...all of that said, I'd prepare myself and give him one last "talk to"...and if no results...make that phone call.

 

[Altster]

If push comes to shove, contact your local news outlet TV station that has investigative reporter(s) who do this for a living.

Contact his grandmother and let her know what is going on. If he does any damage to your property then just go over there and shoot him! (j/k)