| Oil is made from crude oil, a valuable natural resource | | | | and dispose of the solid waste in an oil bank. Do not |
| that is highly sought after. Oil is also a very serious | | | | hose spilled oil away with water. For larger spills, |
| pollutant so it is absolutely essential that any waste | | | | contact the environmental agency or your local |
| oil from the likes of car or boat engines or oil fired | | | | environmental health department immediately. |
| central heating systems for example, is disposed of in | | | | Where can you recycle your waste oil? |
| the proper manner. Despite awareness campaigns | | | | The Environmental Agency has established an oil care |
| and legislation, many irresponsible people are still | | | | campaign to promote environmentally friendly disposal |
| pouring waste oil down drains or dumping it on the | | | | of waste oil, which basically means recycling it. Waste |
| roadside, which is not only illegal, it will contaminate | | | | engine oil can be recycled in any of the oil banks |
| the earth and water it comes into contact with. | | | | situated across the country. |
| Nearly all oil that is poured down a drain will find its | | | | What happens to recycled oil? |
| way into rivers, streams and ultimately the sea and | | | | When waste oil is taken for recycling, it is emptied |
| have a devastating effect on the environment and | | | | into tanks and processed to filter out any unwanted |
| wildlife. Similarly if it is poured onto the ground it can | | | | elements or particles. The oil can then be reused in |
| find its way into the groundwater beneath. | | | | power stations, furnaces, boilers, cement and lime |
| Why recycle your waste engine oil? | | | | kilns and heaters as an alternative source of fuel. It |
| Oil can be recycled and reused which helps preserve | | | | might also be laundered, which means it is cleaned up |
| the earths natural resources for future generations | | | | and sent back to the supplier for reusing, or it can be |
| Recycling waste oil saves energy and money | | | | refined to produce new oil. |
| Recycling oil helps protect the ground from pollution. | | | | What about cooking oil? |
| If waste oil enters into the ground it contaminates | | | | Oil banks are not for used cooking oil. Large amounts |
| the soil and kills off bacteria, micro organisms and | | | | of used cooking oil from factories, restaurants and |
| earthworms, basically everything that is required to | | | | food outlets can be recycled so contact your local |
| regenerate the soil | | | | authority for details on what facilities are available for |
| Even a tiny amount of oil is harmful to water, for | | | | disposing of waste cooking oil in your area. Recycled |
| example only 1 litre of oil can pollute literally millions of | | | | cooking oil can be refined and used to make |
| litres of water and kills fish, birds and other creatures. | | | | detergents or converted into bio fuels and some |
| It is also an extremely costly exercise to clean up | | | | organisations will collect the waste free of charge or |
| Burning the oil is not the solution either as burning oil | | | | will buy it from you. |
| causes air pollution and is of course illegal too without | | | | At home, small amounts of cooking oil can be |
| the proper facilities and authorisations | | | | disposed of along with household rubbish but make |
| When you have waste oil, store the oil in sealed | | | | sure it is cooled first. It is important not to dispose of |
| containers and dont mix it with any other substances | | | | used cooking oil down the sink as it can cause |
| like paint or solvents as this can cause problems and | | | | problems and blockages when it solidifies. Some local |
| make it very difficult to recycle. Storing it in | | | | authorities have facilities for collecting and recycling |
| containers also helps prevent accidental spillage. If | | | | used cooking oil from domestic sources, contact your |
| you do accidentally spill oil, absorb smaller spillages | | | | local authority to find out if this applies in your area. |
| with sand or another absorbent material like sawdust | | | | |