Lubricating oils and their containers are recycled to reduce pollution in Ecuador

Just one drop of used lubricating oil can contaminate 1,000 liters of water and spill it on the ground, causing infertility in the soil and transforming the vegetation into inert. This creates an impermeable layer for oxygen.

It is part of the environmental impacts generated by the inadequate disposal of lubricating oils and their containers when they have already been usedbut through a recycling initiative this form of pollution is being reduced.

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The Ecuadorian Association of Lubricants (APEL) founded the Recoil initiative in April 2021, a waste management model from the lubricants sector to collect these used oils and their containers, whether they are in a company, farm, transport cooperative or in a home. That is to say, that the citizen can also participate and deliver these elements as part of recycling.

“Recoil articulates the management of used lubricating oils and containers with the authorized formal managers, therefore each collection requirement is analyzed with its location, frequency of generation and volume so that the assignment of collection managers is the most efficient for both those who cause the residue as for the management model”, explains Valeria Naveda, Operations Manager of APEL and Recoil.

According to Naveda, this collection is executed nationwide to any actor that has used lubricating oils, plastic or metal containers, such as industries, lubricators, transport cooperatives and citizens.

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In Ecuador they are sold every year about 30 million gallons of lubricating oils. And its inadequate management also generates air pollution. For example, five liters of burned oil contaminates one million cubic meters of air with lead and other harmful substances, which is the amount of air breathed by a person in three years.

“This waste is usually used as fuel in furnaces that do not have the technical specifications or the environmental permits that authorize this activity, generating extensive environmental contamination without even considering the harm to public health that the misuse of this waste entails.” says Naveda.

So far, with this initiative 9.32 million gallons of used oils, 235 metric tons of containers have been managed, and 300 metric tons of metal containers have been reconditioned. Recycled lubricating oils have two authorized uses.

The first is refining, which consists of obtaining raw material from a refining process, which is the lubricant base for the manufacture of new oils. And the second use is energy assessment, mentions Naveda. This activity, regulated by the Ministry of the Environment, is usually carried out mainly by cement kilns, which is called co-processing.

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Meanwhile, empty containers are also recycled by Recoil, that is, They use that plastic as a raw material in the manufacture of various materials.

“They can also be used in authorized energy valuation processes such as co-processing, incineration. Metal containers can be reconditioned for reuse, in the event that due to wear and tear said container cannot be reused, it is sent to a scrapping process for use of the material in other processes”, says Naveda.

What is needed to participate in the initiative and deliver used oils and their containers to Recoil so that they have a better waste treatment?

According to Naveda anyone to participate.

• You must call 1800 Recoil.
• Say your name, address and RUC of the premises or address.
• Then, the amount in (gallons or liters) of used oils and lubricants and empty containers (by presentation) that you have stored.
• And finally, the removal of waste is coordinated, without having to make a payment for it. (YO)