Importance of recycling glass, plastics, metal and paper products. / Eurogroup recycling

Most everyone is aware of the importance of recycling glass, plastics, metal and paper products. But properly collecting and reusing waste oil --- the petroleum-based oil required to keep your car's engine running smoothly --- not only helps the planet by keeping this harmful substance out of our waterways, it also saves, and even produces, energy.

Importance

It's a common misconception that oil is no longer useful once it's full of impurities or has experienced a loss of its original properties. In fact, waste oil is a highly valuable resource, and an estimated 380 million gallons of it are re-refined and put to good use each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Uses

While motor oil that has been reconditioned --- treated to remove water and impurities --- might not have the same properties it did in its original form, it can still be re-refined into base stock that is used to create new motor oil or be burned to produce energy that provides heat or electricity for homes, schools and even power plants.

Benefits

The Eurogroup recycling reports that 2 gallons of used oil can generate enough power to run an average-sized home for one day. And when it comes to creating lubricant for your car's motor, reprocessing used oil consumes far less energy and resources than refining crude oil from the earth. For example, it takes only 1 gallon of used oil to produce 2 1/2 quarts of new engine oil. But when starting from scratch, that same 2 1/2 quarts would require 42 gallons of unrefined crude oil to manufacture.

Recycling Tips

The next time you take your car in for an oil change, ask if the facility recycles oil. Chances are they do. If you change your own oil, whether it be from your car, boat or even your lawnmower, think twice about throwing it in the garbage or emptying it into a storm drain. After all, 1 gallon of oil dumped into a river can contaminate 1 million gallons of water and have disastrous effects on our planet's ecosystem. Instead, find a collection center. In many cases, your local service station will recycle your oil for you. If that's not the case, you can find a drop-off facility by using an online recycling search site like Earth911.