Automotive Discussion

Post a Response

Waste Oil

Posted by Mark Dyson on February 24, 2007, 3:46 pm

I'm in Perth Western Australia and our waste oil disposal situation is reaching a crisis as the traditional waste oil markets have dried up. This is forcing the collection services to stockpile the waste until a solution is found.
I was wondering what the waste oil is used for in the UK/Europe. Heating seems to be one use though it is not allowed in some countries and is being phased out in others. I presume that this is referring to workshop heaters rather than industrial process heating.
Is it cleaned and re refined to some extent as a lubricant in the UK/Europe? Any other info on its use would be greatly appreciated.
As to its collection here, it is similar to what you are doing in the UK though it would appear that your divide up the wastes to a greater degree than we do. We don't separate brake fluid for example, it goes into the waste oil. Currently the oil has been collected for free but fees are on the way. Most workshops charge a nominal amount $A5-10 and I've never had anyone complain about it.

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by Tony Ludford on February 24, 2007, 7:04 pm, in reply to "Waste Oil"

A couple of links for you:

http://www.biofuelsforum.com/making_biodiesel/795-biodiesel_waste_mineral_oil.html

http://www.recycleoil.org/more.html (turned back into engine oil)

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by Mark Molesworth on February 26, 2007, 7:57 pm, in reply to "Waste Oil"

I had a collection of waste oil the other week and the driver was saying that they now have to store the waste oil and then it is shipped to the Netherlands where they still burn it. They used to burn it in the UK in power stations but all the new emmisions laws have put a stop to it. I think in the next few years it is going to get expensive to dispose of waste oil. There was talk of a refinery being built to process waste oil into a fuel for power stations that was more enviro friendly, but I think that has been shelved due to laws.
Mark M

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by Tom Williams on February 26, 2007, 8:13 pm, in reply to "Waste Oil"

Hi,

Longlife oil may not be the best thing for workshop profits, but if disposal is going to be a problem, it might be part of the solution.We used to be paid for waste oil,now in some cases we pay to have it taken off site.
Waste oil heaters are still sold in the UK, but an annual licence from the local authority is required (a fee is payable). Environmental concerns are the 'big thing' nowadays in Western Europe. However, China and probably the USA will drive a coach & horses through any savings the rest of the world makes.

Tom W

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by john smithson on February 26, 2007, 11:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Waste Oil"

"China and probably the USA will drive a coach & horses through any savings the rest of the world makes."
more likely to be a trident or the far cheaper far eastern equivalent.

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by Paul howd on February 27, 2007, 9:52 am, in reply to "Re: Waste Oil"

Though waste oil heaters need a "Licence" I wonder what the position is with using it as fuel for a stationary diesel engine such as a slow speed lister?

(They will run just fine on waste engine oil BTW)

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by Tom Williams on February 27, 2007, 6:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Waste Oil"

Hi,

There's probably not much call for Lister stationary engines these days. My grandfather used to drive a sawbench with a Petter.That was started with gasoline then ran on TVO (tractor vaporising oil). Another product that has disapeared without being missed.

Tom W

Re: Waste Oil

Posted by Colin Calder on March 4, 2007, 6:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Waste Oil"

What a shame we can't drill a big hole in the earth and pour it all back in. Then in about fifty years time when it's worth a fortune we could pump it all back out again! That is, if we still have any fuel left to run the pump

.
Colin Calder.

« Back to index

[ Automotive Discussion ]