Slick oil calls for slick solutions, which Revelstoke's landfill has now secured through a boost to its infrastructure for recycling hazardous waste.
The Victoria-based non-profit Interchange Recycling announced on Thursday, Aug. 7, that the city's waste management yard recently installed a 10-foot sea-container for collecting used oil and additional materials such as antifreeze, oil filters and containers.
"Used motor oil is the perfect recyclable product, if it鈥檚 collected and returned properly,鈥� David Lawes, Interchange Recycling's CEO, said in a release.
But when improperly managed at waste facilities, Laws explained, "it presents a hazard to the environment, which is why it鈥檚 so important that we upgrade recycling infrastructure across the province when it鈥檚 needed, to ensure residents have reasonable and convenient access to used oil recycling centres."
While Revelstoke's landfill already offers free year-round disposal for hazardous waste more generally, the new container means the facility now has better capacity to sort and repurpose oil materials with high end-of-life value.
According to Interchange Recycling, used oil can be re-refined into new lubricating oil or used for manufacturing and energy products. Their filters also contain metal that can get repurposed into products such as rebar, nails and wire. Furthermore, used oil and antifreeze containers are recycled and used to manufacture new oil containers, drainage tiles and parking curbs, while used antifreeze is refined into new antifreeze for motor vehicles.
In 2024, Interchange Recycling's programs across B.C. salvaged more than 47,717,000 litres of used oil 鈥� enough to fill about 19 Olympic swimming pools 鈥� along with awarding six infrastructure grants.
鈥淢aking sure hazardous waste stays out of the landfill is important,鈥� Graham Casselman, waste reduction coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, said in the release.
He said having this new recycling infrastructure for select materials will keep Revelstoke's residents and environment safer.
"With this new upgrade and increased capacity, we are able to serve our community better and urge everyone to take advantage of the service by dropping off their used oil and associated products," Casselman added.
Revelstoke landfill visitors are invited to do so on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
