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4 Environmental Reasons to Recycle Motor Oil and Antifreeze
July 17, 2019
You probably know that motor oil isn't typically considered the most eco-friendly product. But how you handle motor oil and antifreeze waste can make a difference. And once you've seen how many ways recycling these waste products can benefit the earth, you'll realize how much it can help your green credibility as you market to eco-conscious consumers.
Here are some of the environmental reasons to recycle motor oil and antifreeze.
1. Provide Second Life to a Limited-Resource Product
Petroleum products are a limited resource on Earth, which means we cannot generate more than we already have. The best way to use the resource is to reuse it. Unlike some recycled materials that are less effective in their second lives, properly recycled motor oil or antifreeze still offers a high-quality product after recycling.
Typically, recycled motor oil is turned into new motor oil or into another oil product such as heating oil that can be used as fuel for oil furnaces. Antifreeze is simply cleaned of any contaminants it has picked up and turned back into clean, usable antifreeze.
2. Keep Oils Out of Landfills, Soil, and Groundwater
Using up all the earth's oil and then throwing it away isn't sustainable. But what makes it even less sustainable is the fact that when thrown away, the oil contaminates soil and groundwater. This is another great reason why petroleum-based products like motor oil and antifreeze should never be sent to a landfill.
When it contaminates groundwater, oil can be dangerous to humans who drink the water. And when it gets into the soil, motor oil can kill off necessary microbes, smother beneficial creatures such as earthworms, and make the soil unsuitable for growing gardens or crops. By recycling your petroleum-based products, you avoid this contamination.
3. Protect Freshwater and Marine Life From Oil Slicks
Although oil spills in the ocean are often due to leaking oil rigs or overturned ships, freshwater oil pollution is mainly due to used motor oil. In fact, used motor oil contaminates more water in America's lakes and rivers than any other source of pollution.
Once motor oil pollution hits a lake or river, the freshwater fish and other creatures can struggle to survive as the oil slick keeps out light. If you always recycle your used motor oil, you minimize this type of damage to the environment.
4. Avoid Toxic Reactions in Plants and Animals
Both motor oil and antifreeze can harm wildlife and plant life. Antifreeze can kill plants or, in some cases, severely stunt their growth. And since it's both sweet-tasting and toxic, it can easily kill any wildlife unlucky enough to come across a spill.
Motor oil can carry other toxic substances such as heavy metals that can kill wildlife and freshwater life as well. So no matter where these products are dumped, they can harm animals. To keep the toxic effects away from animals, be responsible and recycle motor oil and antifreeze for further use instead of throwing them out.
These are just four of the environmental benefits you gain when you recycle used motor oil and antifreeze. Whether you're a mechanic, a car maintenance establishment, or simply a car aficionado who likes DIY oil changes, your choices matter to the earth. Just two cups of disposed oil can pollute an acre of lake water, but recycling that oil prevents pollution.
Get in touch with Denver Oil today to learn more about what products we pick up, what products we sell, and how the recycling process works. We can schedule a pickup time at your convenience, typically within just a few days of your call.
5 surprising facts about waste oil collection regulations. Contact Denver Oil, Inc today at (303) 974-6699 for compliant waste oil collection in Denver, CO.
Denver Oil offers reliable waste oil pickup services in Denver, CO. Call us at 303-974-6699 for efficient waste oil collection and disposal.
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