16 WORDS IN ACTION http://www.abrbuzz.co.za
South African Automotive Industry
Required to Manage Used Oil Responsibly
With over 12 million registered vehicles on the road in South Africa at present (eNatis statistics) and over
3 000 registered workshops, huge volumes of used oil are being generated in the automotive sectorFor more information contact ROSE on (021) 448 7492 or visit http://www.rosefoundation.org.za
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sed oil is a hazardous waste – one litre of used oil can contaminate one million litres of water. Generators of used oil are required by
the Waste Act to ensure that their oil is responsibly collected and taken away to a registered facility for processing and recycling.Bubele Nyiba, CEO of the ROSE (Recycling Oil Saves the Environment) Foundation, urges generators to collect and store used
oil correctly and to make use of ROSE registered used oil collectors to remove it. They can also remove related waste such as oil fi lters,
rags, and oil-soaked sawdust for disposal or recycling. These services enable automotive service centres to comply with waste legislation.LUBRICATION MATTERS #
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ervice centres and mechanical workshops are urged to gather and store their used oil for responsible collection by a ROSE
registered oil collector who will come and remove the oil and take it to be recycled in an environmentally compliant and safe
manner. Your collector must always issue you with a safe disposal certifi cate which is now required by law under the Waste Act.
The ROSE (Recycling Oil Saves the Environment) Foundation off ers some practical tips for storing used oil:- Drain oil into a clean container with a tight-fi tting lid, such as a reusable combination drain pan/storage container.
- Ensure that you store the oil in a container with a secure lid so that it cannot spill out. Empty oil containers and drums make eff ective
makeshift storage vessels for used oil, however, DO NOT use a container that previously held chemicals, such as cleaners, solvents,
fuels, paint or bleach. - Always clearly label the container “Used Motor Oil.”
- If you run a business that generates a lot of used oil, the ROSE Foundation can supply you with tailor-made, cubic-shaped 1 000
litre mini tanks which make maximum use of available space, hold more oil and to make things even easier, the collections require
no handling of the containers. Sealed couplings are used to pump the contents straight into a tanker truck so there’s no spillage or
leakage. - Keep these containers in a place that can be accessed by an accredited used oil collector and keep the surrounding area clear and
clean. Ideally store them under cover and away from heat or sources of ignition. - Keep oil change pans free of water and ensure your storage containers are tightly sealed and covered to protect them from rain water.
Oil that is contaminated with water is far more diffi cult to recycle – requiring several laborious and costly processes to separate the
water from the oil before it can be recycled. - Ensure that you do not mix used oil with other fl uids such as antifreeze, transmission fl uid, petrol, diesel etc. Mixing them may make
them non-recyclable as well as very hazardous and fl ammable. - Build a bund wall around bulk used oil storage tanks so that in the event of a spill or leak, the used oil will be contained. In the event
of an oil spill, contact your used oil collector.
In addition, according to Bubele Nyiba, CEO of the ROSE Foundation, many businesses also overlook the matter of related wastes. In
this regard one refers to used oil fi lters, oily rags, sawdust used to soak up oil spills, empty oil containers, etc.
“We have dedicated service providers that collect oily containers from service stations in the major metropolitan areas of Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Durban,” says Nyiba.Legalities for used oil and waste
One litre of used motor oil can contaminate one million litres of water!For more information and to fi nd out about an accredited collector contact the ROSE Foundation on
(021) 448 7492 or go to http://www.rosefoundation.org.za