RECYCLE YOUR MOTOR OIL
Americans use
approximately a billion gallons of motor oil every year‑‑and 350 million gallons of
it winds up in the environment.
BACKGROUND. Auto manufacturers recommend that we
change the oil in our cars every 6,000 miles. But they don't tell us what to do
with the old oil. It's become an important issue; used motor oil is perhaps the
worst oil for the environment, because it's not just oil‑while it's flowing
through your engine, it picks up all kinds of extra toxins.
DID YOU KNOW
Some experts estimate
that 40% of the pollution in America's waterways is from used crankcase oil.
About 2.1 million tons of the stuff finds its way into our rivers and streams
every year.
When used motor oil is
poured into the ground, it can seep into the groundwater and contaminate
drinking water supplies. A single quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons
of drinking
water.
Pouring oil into the sewer (or onto the street,
where it will even tually wash into the
sewer) is like pouring it directly into a stream or a river. And just one pint of
used motor oil can create a poison
ous oil slick an acre in diameter.
Tossing oil into the trash is essentially the
same thing as pouring it out. The oil will be dumped in a landfill, where it
will eventually seep into the ground.
SIMPLE THINGS TO DO
If you get your oil changed at a gas station: Check first to make sure they plan to
recycle it. If not, take your car somewhere where they do.
If you change oil yourself (and about 50% of
American drivers do), recycle it: Most communities have gas stations or oil‑changing outlets that recycle
their oil and will accept yours for a small fee, ranging from 250 to $1 a
quart. It costs, because they have to pay someone to pick it up. Call around to
find one close to you.
To make the whole process easier, you can invest
in a do‑ityourself oil recycling
kit. These come with containers that double as oil‑draining receptacles and
carrying cases for transporting the oil to a recycling center. We know of two of
them on the market: the "Pacific Lube Oil Collector," made by Pacific
Landings, Ltd., and the "Oil Change Recycling Kit," by the Scott
Paper Co. If your local automotive store doeset have them, contact the
companies directly at the addresses listed below.
RESULTS:
Most recycled oil is reprocessed and sold as
fuel for ships and in dustrial boilers. The
rest, according to our source, is processed into lubricating and industrial
oils.
Another source adds that there is a future in re‑refining it into motor
oil. A new technology, created by Evergreen Oil of Newark, California, can turn
a gallon of used motor oil into 2.5 quarts of new oil. If America recycled the
billion gallons of motor oil we use every year, we would save 625 million
gallons of motor oil.
RESOURCES:
Pac,Lube Oil Collector, Gary Wilson, Pacific
Landings Ltd. 1208 SW 13th, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97205. (503) 222‑2343.
Scott Oil Change Recycling Tub, Scott Paper Do4t‑Yourself Business, Scott
Plaza, Philadelphia, PA 19113. (800) 321‑2250.
For info on oil recyling: Evergreen Oil, 6880
Smith Ave., Newark, CA 94560. (415‑795‑4400).
You can also c4all your city recycling ditision
to find places which accept oil for recycling.