Used Oil Recycling
A Community of Recyclers
The idea of going green has been around for decades and the majority of Canadians and Canadian businesses have adopted a reduce, reuse and recycle mentality when it comes to everyday recyclables. Together, we generally recycle paper, bottles and cans. We understand the importance of conserving water and energy. And a few eco-pioneers have purchased hybrid cars or installed solar panels on their homes or businesses.
However, recycling and reducing our overall impact on the environment must go further. Many common household and industrial items too often end up in the landfills rather than the right disposal facilities. Junk like used batteries, computers and televisions contain hazardous materials inside of them and throwing them away in a landfill could cause those materials to seep into ground water and contaminate soil.
Used oil falls into this category as well. More homeowners and businesses should look to recycle their used oil in appropriate hazardous waste facilities rather than just toss the oil into the trash.
Effects of Oil
Throwing out used oil instead of recycling it has long lasting effects on the environment. Used oil enters the environment through storm drains, landfills or is washed off the street or driveway straight into the ground and sewers. This oil then finds its way into rivers, streams and oceans or even groundwater. These waterways serve as drinking water for plants, animals and people. The American Petroleum Institute estimates that just one gallon of used oil can contaminate as much as one million gallons of water. If the water is contaminated, animals and plants could die and humans suffer from a lack of clean water.
Benefits of Recycling Oil
Recycling oil comes with many benefits. First, there is the obvious benefit of cleaner waterways and purer sources of drinking water. For this reason alone, people should recycle their used oil.
We also reap the benefit of reducing the need for new sources of oil. Used oil can be recycled into re-refined or reconditioned oil for use in cars and other machinery that requires oil. These processes extend the life of the oil and allow it to be used again and again, further diverting oil pollutants from water sources.
Additionally, oil can find new life when it can no longer be used as a lubricant by repurposing or reusing the oil as fuel in power plants or industrial space heaters.
How to Recycle Oil
The Canadian Petroleum Products Institute maintains we should first prevent pollution, then reduce and recycle pollutants, control and treat pollutants, and then finally responsibly dispose of them.
Many companies and municipalities provide ways for people and businesses to recycle used oil by taking it to a nearby facility. Finding an oil recycling company or location sometimes, though, hinders homeowners and businesses from taking the extra step to recycle a product that doesn't get conveniently picked up.
Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery, Inc. arranges to pick up your used oil at your location and transport it to our hazardous waste site for recycling and reuse saving residents and businesses time while also saving the environment.
Take the next step in environmental stewardship by letting Tri-Arrow help you recycle your used oil.