Some local mechanic shops are running out of space to keep the mix of diesel fuel and gasoline accidentally delivered to filling stations in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and points in between this week.

Claudia Inoue, who with her husband, Stephen Inoue, owns Toy Auto Man on Airport Road, said Wednesday that after emptying the tanks of seven vehicles of the tainted mix, their 275-gallon tank for waste oil is almost full.

Other shop owners told The New Mexican of similar problems.

Claudia Inoue said they usually pay Thermal Fluids, a Phoenix-based firm with an office in Albuquerque, to pick up their waste oil and recycle it. But on Thursday morning, the firm called to say "they were overwhelmed with calls," she said. "They may make it here on Tuesday, maybe not. They're bringing oil drums to some businesses just to pump gasoline into."

The city Wastewater Management Division issued a news release Thursday warning mechanic shops not to dispose of unwanted motor fuel in the sanitary sewer or storm-water system. "The city of Santa Fe has been monitoring this situation and is not aware of such pollutants entering the wastewater system," it said.