The Environmental Impact of Improper Waste Oil Disposal

Waste oil is classed as a hazardous material and must be dealt with accordingly, and yet it is estimated that over 2.6 billion litres of waste oil continue to enter our oceans every year, half of which comes from improper waste disposal.

It isn’t just large oil spills that cause major environmental damage either, as just 1 litre of waste oil can contaminate over 1 million litres of water, meaning even the smallest quantities of waste oil can have a considerable negative impact on the environment if not disposed of correctly.

In our lakes, rivers, and oceans, waste oil spreads over the surface of the water, creating a layer of pollution that prevents oxygen from reaching aquatic life. Beyond the initial impact of waste oil contamination on wildlife and organisms, the toxic compounds in waste oil can have lasting effects on the soil and water it has been in contact with, causing environmental damage long after the waste oil has been cleared.

Here at Oil Salvage, all the waste oil that we collect is treated and processed through our state-of-the-art onsite vacuum distillation re-refinery. The re-refinery process converts the waste oil back into a re-usable base oil, which is sent on to manufacturers to complete the circular economy, if that wasn’t enough, the byproducts generated from the distillation process are also reused in processes like asphalt production.

Choose a Greener Vision, choose Oil Salvage to collect your waste oil, and rest assured that every drop is given a new lease of life.