Why More Small Businesses Should Become Used Oil Collection Centers

Many small businesses have struggled due to the effects COVID-19 has had on the economy. Business owners all over the country are working hard to offer more and more services to their customers to stay relevant and create multiple income streams. 

One of the ways many small businesses can become more relevant is to offer used oil collection services. Although there are some initial start-up costs associated with becoming a used oil collection center, the benefits can make up for the initial investment.

Here are just a few reasons to consider collecting used motor oil from your community.

Protect the Planet

Motor oil is an essential petroleum product for everyone from car owners to shipping businesses. It lubricates moving engine parts and protects them from the negative effects of friction. But as a petroleum product, oil can harm the environment.

Unrecycled motor oil can make its way into natural waterways like lakes, rivers, and oceans. There, it can harm plant and animal life and pollute our fresh water sources. In fact, just one gallon of motor oil can pollute one million gallons of fresh water. For these reasons, oil recycling is essential.

Recycling oil is also a less resource-intensive process than creating new motor oil. Since motor oil degrades very slowly, it can be used again and again after it has been refined. In fact, according to National Geographic, motor oil can be seen as a renewable resource. By helping your community recycle used oil, you can help reduce everyone’s carbon footprint.

As a used motor oil collection center, your business would accept used motor oil that your customers might otherwise throw away or dump illegally. By offering a local, easily accessible drop-off location, you can help people in your community protect the planet. 

Get New Customers Through the Door

Getting customers into your business is a challenge. With great marketing and community support, small businesses can do fairly well, but thriving can be difficult. Now, with COVID-19 keeping people indoors, you may have recently seen a drop in your sales.

Many customers these days are taking fewer trips away from home and consolidating those trips to get as much done as possible. If you offer an extra, necessary service, you can get more potential customers into your business despite the changes in people's behavior.

To make this work for your business, don't offer a self-service oil drop-off. Instead, require customers to walk into your business to request the use of your oil collection center (following social distancing guidelines) and then help them dispose of their oil. Once they have stopped into your business, they will make a connection with you and could become long-term customers.

Connect With Your Local Community

One of the best ways to grow your business is to connect with your community. As you build connections, your sales will grow from word of mouth alone, without you dramatically changing your marketing or lifting a finger to promote your business. 

Opening a used motor oil collection center is just one way to make your business a mainstay of your community. If people around you know that you are willing to support the planet and the local environment by preventing oil contamination, you can build trust with them. 

Make sure you advertise your oil collection service both in your business and as part of your general marketing initiatives to ensure people throughout your community know they can turn to you when they have oil to dispose of. 

At Denver Oil, we collect used oil from collection centers, auto shops, and many other businesses around Denver, Colorado. If you have any questions about the logistics of oil collection, call us today to learn more about what we do.