Residents of qathet Regional District (formerly Powell River Regional District) are becoming more aware of a used oil and antifreeze recycling facility operated by Sunshine Disposal and Recycling.
“I would say it started slower than anticipated but once we got the promotion packages out there and word of mouth started, it really has grown,” said Sunshine Disposal owner Dale McCormack.
The regional district brought the company together with BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA), a non-profit organization set up for stewardship of collecting and recycling lubricating oil, oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze and antifreeze containers.
When a local retailer discontinued its recycling program in 2017, residents of the region had nowhere to go to dispose of used oil, antifreeze and containers.
“Basically you had an area where they accepted this stuff and it was not staffed,” according to regional district manager of asset management and strategic initiatives Mike Wall. “They were receiving contamination. There were things being dropped off and who knows what it was? This new facility is staffed and they understand what's being brought in.”
The regional district moved quickly to facilitate an introduction between BCUOMA and Sunshine Disposal. In six months, the deal was done.
“The next thing you know the stewardship program shipped over a full recycling plant,” said Wall. He added that the plant is a receiving facility in a container valued at approximately $15,000, and it came free of charge.
McCormack said use of his company’s oil product recycling is free to the consumer. However, a cost is ultimately passed on because customers are required to pay eco fees when purchasing new oil and antifreeze.
“At any retail outlet you're charged an eco fee when you buy that oil so that’s handled and takes care of the responsible recycling of it when you take it back,” said McCormack. “That's paid for by the customer when they purchase their oil.”
Oil recovered at BCUOMA recycling centres can be reused for a variety of purposes, including refining into new lubricating oil and as a fuel in pulp mills.
Each year in BC approximately 50 million litres of oil, and three million litres of antifreeze is collected through about 300 public collection facilities.
Sunshine Disposal and Recycling is located at 4484 Franklin Avenue in Powell River.
