Lubricating oil is the lifeblood of heavy industrial machinery and vehicles, especially those used in mines, large factories, and workshops. Over time and due to relentless use, this oil loses some of the properties this equipment relies on and becomes old or used. Rather than viewing this as a useless waste product, oil recovery experts can take this worn-out oil and, through various techniques, recover some or all of its inherent value.
The problem of oil waste
Oil waste is a problem all over the world, and in Australia alone, around 350 million litres of waste lubricating oil alone is collected every year, with over 60% of this waste oil being burned or incorporated into explosives products. Oil disposal is a significant challenge to industries, with strict cross-industry regulations for waste oil disposal placing a necessary but highly resource-consuming burden on businesses to prevent damage to the environment.
For this reason, waste oil disposal has become a serious headache for industries that rely heavily on lubricating oil – but that doesn’t need to be the case. By pursuing oil recovery rather than oil waste disposal, industries can not only meet regulatory compliance goals and maintain machinery efficiency but also actively create a new, viable and desirable product while protecting the environment.
Industry plays a critical role in oil recovery
The concept of oil recovery requires that all parties in the chain share equal responsibility and play an active role in the process. Generally, the used oil collector and oil processing facility are highlighted as critical, but true oil recovery starts with the generator of the spent oil – i.e., the machinery or vehicle user.
For used oil to be fully recovered it must first be handled properly and not mixed with unlike materials. It must be stored carefully and securely as if it were something precious. Used oil collectors and processors are becoming more discerning over the quality of the used oil they handle because this ultimately dictates to what extent it can be recovered and the value of the product they can deliver.
If you have old oil from equipment that you need to get rid of, it is therefore critical to understand the importance of handling and storing it properly before collection. Understandably, this is not an area of industry expertise, which is where Benzoil comes in.
With decades of experience in industrial waste management, we handle all liquid, solid, contained gas, and sludge wastes that are harmful to the environment. We understand the needs of the industries we partner with and utilise fully compliant and industry best practise waste recycling and disposal processes. We can offer you the expertise, advice, and practical assistance in handling and storing used oil to ensure that it is fully viable for oil recovery processes, transforming a waste product into a new and useful one.
By extracting the most value from recyclable materials, we give our partners the ability to access additional cost savings and supply partner organisations with valuable recycled resources. In addition, our clients can leverage our extensive network and buying power, ensuring the most cost-effective yet fully compliant waste management, collection, and disposal solutions through best-in-class partner facilities.
For more information on best practice waste oil housekeeping and oil recovery for industries across Australia, contact our team today.
