by Old motor oil poses a serious threat to the environment if disposed improperly. However, automotive oil recycling provides a sustainable solution to deal with used motor oil in an eco-friendly manner. This article discusses the importance of automotive oil recycling and how it benefits both the environment and the automotive industry.
What is Automotive Oil Recycling?
Automotive oil recycling is the process of collecting used motor oil from various sources such as automotive shops, do-it-yourself oil changers, etc. and subjecting it to refinement processes to remove impurities and contaminants. The refined used oil is then blended with additives to produce new lubricating oil of the desired specifications.
Motor oil accumulates various impurities such as burned fuel, soot, metal particles etc. during use in engines. These contaminants cannot be reused and are removed through techniques such as vacuum distillation and clay treatment. The resulting base oils still contain valuable base stocks that can be blended to produce new motor oil meeting industry standards. This recycling process allows reusable resources to be recovered from used motor oil.
Environmental and Economic Benefits of Oil Recycling
Recycling used motor oil provides significant environmental and economic benefits:
– It prevents used oil from contaminating the environment if disposed into sewers or dumped on land. When dumped outdoors, used oil can seep into groundwater and pollute soils making them hazardous to humans and animals. Recycling ensures used oil is processed safely.
– The recycling process recovers valuable resources like base oils instead of extracting fresh crude oil. This promotes sustainability and reduces dependence on non-renewable petroleum sources. Around 75% of used motor oil can be re-refined.
– Producing new motor oil from used oil is more energy efficient compared to producing it from crude oil. It saves energy equivalent to that needed to produce around 2.5 gallons of new oil from crude. This lowers greenhouse gas emissions from the automotive industry.
– Recycled used motor oil reduces the need to import crude oil, saving large money import costs. It also earns revenue from sales of re-refined oil thereby boosting the economy. Jobs are created in collection, transportation and processing of used motor oil.
Automotive Oil Recycling in the U.S.
The U.S. has led the way in developing an efficient used oil recycling infrastructure over the past few decades. Some key facts:
– Around 240 million gallons of used oil are generated annually in the U.S. from all sources including automotive, industrial, commercial etc. Of this, only a small fraction ends up as waste while the majority is recycled.
– There are over 9,000 oil collection centers across the country where do-it-yourself oil changers can drop off used oil for free. Many automotive shops also have arrangements with oil recycling companies.
– Major re-refineries process used oil into new lubricating oil meeting industry standards such as SAE grades. Valvoline, Vertex Energy and Safety-Kleen are some leading re-refineries.
– Regulations such as the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980 mandated setting up effective collection programs nationwide. Most states have enforced curbside collection of used oil through participating municipal collection sites.
Challenges in Automotive Oil Recycling
While progress has been made, there still exist some challenges that need addressing:
– Improper used oil disposal: Though banned, used oil continues to be mishandled by citizens and some automotive shops. Stronger enforcement of rules is required.
– Contamination of used oil: Used oil gets mixed with other wastes such as antifreeze, solvents and paint thinners making re-refining difficult. Source separation is important.
– Low collection rates in some regions: Rural and remote regions lack adequate collection infrastructure. Mobile collection programs or e-commerce drop-off options can help boost access.
– Public awareness: Despite promotion, lack of awareness remains about importance of recycling used oil instead of improper disposal or mixing with other waste streams. More outreach initiatives are needed targeting both public and auto shops.
In summary, automotive oil recycling has grown vastly in the U.S. to become a major practice for sustainable waste management. It prevents oil pollution while recovering valuable resources for new lubricant production. Continued efforts to address challenges can help further raise collection rates and establish used oil recycling as a cornerstone of green automotive maintenance practices. With collective support and responsibility, the automotive servicing industry can move toward achieving near zero waste of used motor oil to benefit both the economy and environment.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
