Oil filters recycled

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September 7th, 2010

Used oil collectors now accept used oil filters from workshops and fleet owners in Gauteng, for recycling at a refinery in Chloorkop, Kempton Park.

Marked collection drums, a new oil filter compacting press, workshop, and a metals delivery skip, were funded by the Rose Foundation, and are used at FFS Refinery.

Collectors are paid 20c per kilogram for used oil filters, and disposers are paid for scrap metals by ISO 14001 certified foundaries. Rose Foundation pays approved disposers 30c per kilogram for disposing of waste residues.

Collection involves members of the National Oil Recycling Association of SA, Norasa, the collection partner of the Rose Foundation.

“We aim to keep all oil associated waste out of the environment and out of landfill”, said Rose Foundation vice chairman David Page at a launch at FFS Refiners in August.

Waste legislation

The Waste Act, 59 of 2008, requires waste generators, handlers, processors, treatment facilities, and disposers, to prevent, minimise, re-use, or recycle resources, and to legally and responsibly dispose of non-retrievable hazardous waste.

Oil filters pose continuous risks to safety, health and environment, due to fire, toxins, contamination and pollution hazards. Used oil filters are classed as hazardous waste in the Waste Act and forthcoming Waste Regulations.

By 2013, hazardous waste would not be allowed into general landfill sites. Meanwhile hazardous landfill sites are becoming more expensive to operate.

Used oil generators, including workshops, fleet owners, and equipment users, have to separate and store recyclables, report volumes to provincial environmental authorities, and seek healthy and environmentally friendly offsets.

The waste volume reporting authority in Gauteng is the provincial department of Environment and Agriculture, GDEA, former GDACE. Hazardous waste handlers are registered and licensed with GDEA, and licenses are usually renewed every five years.

FFS laboratory chemist Fundi Ngoma is on hand to analyse ash content, viscosity, flashpoint, acidity, and chemical oxygen demand in used oil or contaminated water.

STAKEHOLDERS PHOTO; FFS Refinery branch manager Alton Beukes, Automotive Waste MD Adaan van der Merwe, and Rose Foundation vice chairman Dave Page.

ACTION PHOTO; Used oil filters are compacted to retrieve used oil for recycling. Metals are sold to a smelter. Paper filters are drained, compacted, and sent to landfill.

THUMBNAIL PHOTO; Used oil filters continuously release toxins if dumped or landfilled.