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Reduce,
Reuse, RECYCLE
Recycle
That Used Oil!
submitted by Barb Ogg, PhD, Extension Educator
This
article appears in the August 2002 NEBLINE Newsletter.
The
Nebraska Used Oil Collection and Reuse Program promotes
the recycling of oil. Used oil collected through the program
will be reused, recovered for energy, used in asphalt applications,
or re-refined.
Why
Collect Used Oil?
State
law (LB1257) banned disposal of waste oil in landfills back
in1994. There is a need to prevent soil, surface water,
and groundwater in Nebraska from possible contamination
from used oil.
According
to the Environmental Protection Agency, used oil is responsible
for approximately 40 percent of the pollution in rivers
and streams. A gallon of used oil can ruin one million gallons
of fresh water--a year's supply for 50 people.
Used
oil that is improperly disposed of on roads, along fence
lines or released into the air or through burning is a pollutant
because toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic
are released into the environment. The oil can also contaminate
surface and groundwater.
What
Happens to Collected Oil?
Used
oil can be used as a fuel resource. One gallon of used oil
can be used to generate 98 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Used oil has nearly twice the energy-producing value of
coal.
It's
also a valuable resource when cleaned of its impurities
and re-refined. Several national brands have been successfully
marketed as premium recycled motor oils. Recycling used
oil back into clean lubricating oil takes only from 1/2
to 1/4 as much energy as refining from crude oil.
What
Will Be Accepted?
- Spent
oil from gasoline and diesel engines
- Spent
refrigerant lubricating oil
- Spent
lubricating oil from aircraft reciprocating and jet engines
- Spent
hydraulic fluid
- Spent
heat transfer fluids
- Spent
transmission fluid
- Cutting
Oils
What
Will NOT Be Accepted?
- Spent
antifreeze
- Brake
fluid
- Solvents
of any kind
- Any
used oil with water
- Vegetable
oils (note: National By-Products will recycle vegetable
oils. The plant that services central and eastern Nebraska
is in Bellevue. Call tollfree: 1-800-247-7401)
Make
sure to use empty, clean, leak-proof, and sealable containers.
Take uncontaminated used oil to one of these three collection
facilities in Lancaster County:
- Lincoln:
Transfer Station, 5101 N. 48th Street, 6:45 am - 3:00
pm, M-Sat. 6:45-noon, Sunday. Used oil will be accepted
in quantities less than 25 gallons during all hours. If
you have quantities greater than 25 gallons, call 402-441-8104
and make an appointment.
- Davy:
Otte Oil & Propane, 3435 Davey Rd, 9:00 am - 3 pm,
M - F, except holidays; (402-785-2365).
- Firth:
Firth Energy Co., 208 W. 3rd St. 8:00 am - 5 pm, M-F;
8:00 am - noon, Saturday, except holidays; (402-791-5837).
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