Management of petroleum-related waste at fuel service stations in Senegal: Case of the Dakar and Thiès regions

The management of petroleum-related waste generated by fuel service stations represents a major environmental challenge in developing countries, where monitoring, control, and recovery systems remain weakly structured. This study investigates petroleum-related waste management practices, with a particular focus on used engine oil, at fuel service stations located in the Dakar and Thiès regions of Senegal. The results indicate that used engine oil accounts for 95.2% of the petroleum-related waste generated. Only 40.5% of the surveyed stations comply with all regulatory requirements, while 59.5% exhibit significant deficiencies in storage conditions, waste evacuation, or traceability. Statistical analyses reveal no significant relationship between managers' knowledge of environmental regulations and actual waste management practices. Waste recovery pathways are largely dominated by energy recovery, whereas local re-refining activities remain limited. These findings highlight structural weaknesses in the governance of petroleum-related waste management and underscore the need to strengthen control mechanisms, waste traceability, and sustainable recovery pathways within a circular economy framework.