Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle Your Oil?

Posted on October 26, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized |

By Lauren Ellis

recycle-oil1

America’s addiction to oil and the old adage “reduce, reuse, and recycle� are two of the greatest energy clichés. Recycling paper, glass, and aluminum goods have become knee-jerk home values, and even though we’re inching closer to that alternative energy dawn, oil will continue it’s reign as the world’s lifeblood.

But what if we merged the two into a brand new energy mash-up? Introducing recyclable oil: a product that reconciles our dependence on oil with the social impetus for conservation. According to the American Petroleum Institute, recycling two gallons of used oil can generate enough electricity to run the average household for almost 24 hours. That’s a surprisingly positive benefit from an energy source that’s has more strikes against it than, well, we’ve just lost count at this point.

Japanese environmental equipment manufacturer Fuji Energy has designed a device that converts used engine or waste oil into fuel, utilizing heating and filtering mechanisms to emulsify the waste oil into an alternative fuel. Fuji’s new process aims to reduce fuel expenses by 30%, costing roughly $8.70/month to operate.

Used motor oil can be refined into a base stock for lubricating oil. It can be burned for energy, funneled into power plants or cement kilns to be burned as added fuel, or can be used for space heating in small businesses. While this extra oil use may only feed the fire, think about all the systems and major infrastructure that currently run on oil (automobiles, anyone?) Reusing the resource, rather than eroding our environment or weakening our national security, is a much more sensible alternative.

Check out Earth911 for a service site or recycling coordinator near you. The website also offers information on how and where to recycle other materials- such as batteries, electronics, and aluminum wares.

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1 Comment so far
  1. Greta Springer October 27, 2009 9:51 am

    I couldn’t agree more! One of the fascinating things about used oil is that it has the same amount of energy content as it did before it was used, which makes it a great—and cheap!—fuel. Businesses that generate this oil can safely recycle it onsite in the most environmentally friendly manner available with a waste oil furnace or boiler. These complete heating systems provide safe fuel management, EPA-approved used oil disposal and free heat. Emissions are incredibly low and the byproduct is a fine ash that can be thrown away. As if eliminating a heating bill weren’t enough!

    All waste oil furnaces are not the same. EnergyLogic systems are the only complete systems that make fuel management, maintenance and ownership simple. They are engineered for extensive use in rugged climates, which means they can withstand any shop environment. They require no daily, weekly or monthly manual adjustments so working them is as simple as setting the thermostat.

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