Plastic Motor Oil Containers
Each year, over 30 million plastic oil containers are sold across Australia. Plastic from used oil containers is difficult for recyclers to handle as even when drained, these containers can retain up to 10% of the oil. In addition, the plastic takes up to 1000 years to decompose in landfill.
The Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH), the Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP) and its members - BP Castrol, Caltex, Mobil, Shell and Valvoline - and major packaging manufacturer Visy Industrial Packaging have come together to develop a dedicated recovery and recycling system for discarded plastic oil containers.
The Recycling Plastic Oil Containers Program has been rolled out in VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD and SA with over 120 collection facilities established at local waste transfer facilities. The program will be rolled out nationally by 2008.
The program is aimed at 'DIY' oil changers (not commercial operators such as mechanics, car yards, etc).
Targeted containers range from 100mls to 10 litres (20 litre containers are also acceptable).
Consumers should:
- Change over oil in their vehicles, draining the used oil into empty oil containers.
- Take the used oil and containers to England's Road Waste Management Facility.
- Leave all containers (full and empty) at the designated drop off point at the Waste Facility.
From there:
- Oil recyclers collect the used oil for reuse as an energy source.
- Visy collects the used containers and uses specialised equipment to granulate the plastic containers and then separate oil from the plastic.
- Visy reprocesses the plastic to produce post consumer recyclate for use in new oil bottles and other industrial products.
Coffs Harbour City Council encourages consumers to make their way to England's Road and follow these simple steps for disposing of used motor oil containers.
For more information on this program or to find out where your nearest collection facility is, please call 1800 982 006 or visit www.aip.com.au or www.oilrecycling.gov.au.
