Did you know that you can recycle the oil and antifreeze from your vehicle or other machines, as well as the filters and containers, for free at the Revelstoke landfill?
The used oil recycling centre on site is was the first of many to receive funding from the BC Used Oil Management Association.
“We provided a grant for the tank and the sea container,” said David Lawes, executive director of the association. “It is one of our best pieces of infrastructure we are putting in across B.C. because it is fully contained, it’s got a modified floor with spill containment plus it has got the tank inside, you can close the doors, stay out of the weather.”
The oil collected at the site is shipped to a re-refinery in Vancouver and 3/4 of it is recycled back into lubricating oil, Lawes said. 100 per cent of the antifreeze is recycled to be sold again.
“We call it a circular economy product,” said Lawes.
Revelstoke was one of the first centres in Revelstoke because there was high need. Lawes said that retailers in the city reached out to the association saying they didn’t have the capacity to accept used oil from the public.
According to a news release from the association approximately 50 million litres of oil, and 3 million liters of antifreeze are collected and responsibly managed each year through the approximately 300 public collection facilities and over 4,000 generators across the province.
While on site at the Revelstoke facility, Lawes brought new signage that explains how easy it is to properly recycle the materials.
One of the keys, Lawes said, is to bring in the oil or antifreeze as soon as possible, don’t let it sit outside or get water in it.
“Used oil is a valuable resource and there is a market for used oil,” the news release said. “If it is disposed of at a BC Used Oil Recycling Centre, it can be recovered and re-used. Used oil can be re-refined into new lubricating oil and used as a fuel in pulp mills, cement plants and asphalt plants. Any vehicle maintenance facilities, automobile owners, and other machinery maintenance operations that use oil also can use re-refined oil.”
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jocelyn.doll@revelstokereview.com
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