Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 21, 1990 TAG: 9005290362
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Tammy Poole
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
One case in point is the encouragement some time ago that we should all save our used motor oil for refining in order to cut down on our imports of foreign oil. As an incentive, there was the indication that collecting points would pay 27 cents per gallon.
I decided to cooperate in this venture, not so much for the monetary gain, but as a somewhat patriotic gesture.
I procured a 55 gallon metal drum for the purpose of saving oil from the family car, truck, tractor, several lawn mowers and other equipment.
When the barrel was full, I began calling trying to find someone who wanted the used oil. To my surprise, no one wanted it, but actually wanted to charge me $25 to pick up the drum of oil.
Even our trash pick up in the county was reluctant to pick up more than a few quarts. So I'm left with 55 gallons of used oil nobody wants. So much for ecology and recycling. - Randolph Arrington, Roanoke
A: The incentive program you referred hasn't been used in years, according to a spokesman for the Virginia Energy Hotline in Richmond.
In the past, centers that accepted used motor oil could send the product to its company's collection center for free. Now, however, these places may be charged to have its used oil hauled away. This is why no one wants to accept 55 gallons of oil at one time, according to the spokesman.
Don't give up because of one bad experience. The state's Division of Energy has several reasons to recycle used motor oil:
It protects your water. Each year over 4,400,000 gallons of used oil are disposed of improperly by do-it-yourself oil changers in Virginia alone.
Just one gallon of oil can form an oil slick of nearly eight acres in size.
As little as one quart of oil, when completely dissolved or dispersed in water, can contaminate up to 2,000,000 gallons of drinking water, depending on individual taste and odor sensitivity.
In addition, the toxic substances and known carcinogens found in used oil can produce persistent harmful effects in plants, animals and aquatic life.
Oil poured into storm sewer openings goes directly to the nearest creek, river or lake, easily polluting our water.
Oil dumped in sanitary sewers goes to the sewage treatment plant where it can disrupt and increase costs of plant operation.
A heavy rain will cause oil spread on a driveway or field to rise to the surface and float away, again causing pollution problems.
Oil dumped in the trash goes to landfills where the oil may seep into groundwater.
The best way to protect your water from the pollution of used oil is to take it to the nearest used oil collection center for recycling.
The energy potential of improperly disposed used oil is lost forever. For example, by reprocessing, the 4.4 million gallons of Virginia's used oils wasted annually could be used to heat the equivalent of 6,000 Virginia homes for an entire year.
And through refining, two and a half quarts of new motor oil can be extracted from one gallon of used oil. Rerefined oil is produced using only one-fourth the energy of refining from crude oil.
Not only is discharging oil into or upon the waters of Virginia hazardous, it also is illegal. Violators could be held liable for the cost of cleanup, and if you fail to report a discharge, you may be subject to civil penalties.
To properly dispose of used motor oil, collection centers have been established at local service stations across the state. They accept used oil collected from autos, motorcycles, boats, lawn mowers and tractors - just don't save it all up and then try to get rid of it (as you have already learned).
These facilities are provided at no cost as a public service. To take advantage of these centers, drain your used motor oil into an unbreakable sealable container, such as a plastic milk carton. Protect the oil from debris and water as contaminated oil cannot be accepted for recycling.
In Roanoke, the centers are:
Town & Country Citgo, 3001 Brandon Ave. S.W.;
Flint's Servicenter, 2726 Franklin Road;
Majic Lube, 2901 Franklin Road;
Garden City Shell, 2853 Garden City Blvd. S.E.;
Grandin Texaco, 1514 Grandin Road S.W.;
Jessee's Exxon, 2825 Hershberger Road N.W.;
Majic Lube, 2106 Orange Ave.;
Sunnybrook Service Center, 722 Pearl Ave. N.E.;
Roanoke Auto Servicenter, 701 13th St. S.W.;
Chevron, 4040 Melrose Ave. N.W.
In Roanoke County, the centers are:
Oakgrove Texaco, 2001 Electric Road S.W.;
Cave Spring Exxon, 3162 Electric Road S.W.;
Virginia Avenue Lancer, 210 W. Virginia Ave., Vinton.
For more information on Virginia's Used Oil Recycling Program and collection sites near you, call the Division of Energy's Energy Hotline's toll-free number, (800) 552-3831.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on May 28, 1990\ Clarifications
In a recent Quickline column on recycling used motor oil, the Virginia Energy Hotline said some facilities accept used oil for free as a public service.
However, a reader pointed out that some places charge for accepting the oil. Because most of them pay to have the oil hauled away, there is a small charge (about 10 cents per gallon).
The Virginia Energy Hotline said it has no way of keeping track of which companies charge for accepting the oil, so readers should call the company first to find out if there will be a fee.
Memo: CORRECTION