The Nazko Lake landfill’s oil recycling facility west of Quesnel is one of nine locations throughout B.C. receiving upgraded infrastructure.
The new and improved used oil recycling facilities are part of a BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) initiative undertaken over the past three months.
The BCUOMA is a not-for-profit group dedicated to the collection and recycling of lubricating oil, oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze and antifreeze containers in B.C. Seven used oil recycling facilities across B.C. have been upgraded with new, environmentally safe infrastructure, and two new BCUOMA return collection facilities (RCFs) have opened.
Other upgraded RCFs including locations in Victoria, Chilliwack, Prince George, Mackenzie, Mount Currie and McBride. The two brand new RCFs are located in New Hazelton and Keremeos.
“The return collection facility infrastructure grants that businesses and municipalities received from BCUOMA provided them with a 10 foot or 20 foot modified sea container, and 1,100 to 2,200 litre tanks,” said David Lawes, CEO of BCUOMA. “These new and upgraded used oil recycling facilities will ensure the responsible collection and management of used oil, antifreeze, filters and containers.”
He added BCUOMA is dedicated to providing British Columbians with environmentally safe, free to use and convenient RCFs.
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The RCF infrastructure grant program that BCUOMA provides requires the responsible environmental handling, collection, transportation, storage, processing and recycling of used oil and antifreeze material using economic, efficient and environmentally acceptable options.
BCUOMA has created signage for B.C. used oil recycling centres explaining how to recycle materials properly.
BCUOMA said used oil is a valuable resource and, if it is recycled at one of the RCFs, it can be recovered and re-refined into new lubricating oil, usable by vehicle maintenance facilities, automobile owners and other machinery maintenance operations.
Used oil filters contain reusable scrap metal, which steel producers can recycle metal products like rebar, nails and wire. Used antifreeze is reprocessed to produce new automotive antifreeze, while plastic oil containers are recycled into new oil containers, flowerpots, pipe, guardrails and patio furniture.
The BCUOMA said each year approximately 50 million litres of oil, and three million litres of antifreeze is collected and responsibly managed through the approximately 300 public collection facilities and over 4,000 generators across the province.
In 2019, BCUOMA collected more than 51 million litres of used oil, which was the highest total amount in the program’s history.
Municipalities, private businesses, non-profit organizations and other sectors interested in BCUOMA’s RCF new infrastructure grants can find out more information at https://bcusedoil.com/infrastructure-grants/.
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