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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of wastes of metal pickling liquors, hydraulic fluids, brake fluids & antifreeze (SITC 59940) totaled $9K in April 2026, traded with 3 countries.
Wastes of Metal Pickling Liquors, Hydraulic Fluids, Brake Fluids & Antifreeze imports of $9K in April 2026 ran 18% below the year-to-date monthly average of $11K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataSpent metal pickling liquors—typically strong acid solutions laden with dissolved metals—and waste hydraulic, brake, and antifreeze fluids are classified as hazardous wastes under RCRA, with pickling liquors often carrying corrosivity and toxicity characteristics that restrict disposal options. Waste antifreeze (primarily ethylene glycol) and brake fluids have established recycling markets, making them more commercially viable as import feedstocks for reclamation facilities than acid pickling wastes. All four waste streams require EPA transboundary hazardous-waste notification and consent procedures, and metal-bearing pickling liquors may additionally trigger Clean Water Act pretreatment standards at the receiving facility.
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All four waste streams require EPA notification and consent under RCRA's transboundary hazardous-waste rules, but their hazard characteristics differ significantly. Spent pickling liquors are typically corrosive and may be toxic due to dissolved heavy metals, while waste antifreeze and brake fluids are primarily hazardous for ignitability or toxicity. The specific RCRA waste codes and applicable land-disposal restrictions vary by stream, so importers must characterize each waste separately.
Spent ethylene glycol antifreeze can be reclaimed and re-refined into reusable antifreeze or industrial coolant through established recycling processes, giving it positive commercial value as a feedstock. When domestic collection volumes are insufficient to meet a reclaimer's capacity, importing waste antifreeze from nearby sources can be economically viable, provided the material meets the reclaimer's purity specifications and RCRA reclamation exemption conditions are satisfied.
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANADA | $9K | $599K | +$590K |
| BARBADOS | -- | $4K | +$4K |
| UNITED KINGDOM | -- | -- | -- |
| AUSTRIA | -- | -- | -- |
| JAPAN | -- | -- | -- |
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Monthly import values over time