Oily Plastic

The Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery, SARRC, manages the province's used oil recovery program (See www.usedoilrecycling.com). Their mandate includes the collection of oil containers as well as the more obvious used oil and filters. Oil is sold in plastic jugs that range in size from 500ml to 10 litres as well as 22 litre pails.

Plastic oil containers pose the usual handling problems of being light weight and bulky. Their oily residue makes them a messy proposition. Companies that collect used oil and filters have been reluctant to deal with the plastic containers. The oily residue can also cause problems for recyclers, as the oil can interfere with their normal processes.

The return rates for oil containers reflect these difficulties. While about 80% of used oil and filters are being recycled, only 19% of the containers were returned last year. SARRC has responded by increasing promotion and raising the return incentive paid to oil collectors. Some companies are now making a conscious effort to get containers. They provide bags and stands for collection and give rebates to high volume customers.

These efforts have helped: the anticipated return rate for 2002 is 22-25%, a definite improvement, although it will be some time before their long term goal of 50% is reached.

The oil containers were being recycled into composite plastic products at XPotential in Regina; since that plant's closure in late 2008, other markets have been found.

(Source: WasteWatch, September 2002; updated Dec. 2008)

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