Spotlight on Used Oil
Used motor oil is a common byproduct of vehicle maintenance. While it may seem like waste, used oil is actually a valuable resource that can be recycled and reused.
Used oil contains a variety of contaminants due to circulating through your engine, it is considered hazardous waste, and needs to be disposed of properly. In Saskatchewan, you can recycle any petroleum or synthetic crankcase oil, engine oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, heat transfer fluid or other fluid used for lubricating purposes in machinery or equipment. Don’t let used oil go to waste — when brought in for recycling, it can be re-refined again and again! In fact, 443.8 million litres litres have been recovered in Saskatchewan since 1997!
How to Recycle Used Oil
Bring your used oil (and its container!) to a drop-off location near you. For large quantities, you can also contact a registered collector who will make arrangements to pick up your used oil and antifreeze materials at your business or on your farm.
Remember that used oil and antifreeze should be kept separate as when they’re mixed, they are hard to recover.
You can use your original containers to store used products. Be sure to label them, and always keep them closed.
What Happens to Used Oil
Used oil can be recycled and used over and over again. Once it reaches the processor, they clean it up, take out the impurities that have leached out of your engine, and remake it into new oil. Itʼs cost effective and saves resources!
Did you know that by recycling used oil, you’re also participating in closed loop recycling? Closed loop means that a product is recycled back into its previous form, meaning old oil becomes new again. This helps our environment by reducing the amount of new oil that needs to be extracted, transported, and refined. Drop your used oil at one of SARRC’s collection points, and do your part!
