By Alex Rinfret--Islanders can now get rid of used oil filters and containers at the regional landfill north of Port Clements, free of charge.
It's the first time that used oil recycling has been widely available on the islands, and comes after the regional district reached an agreement with More Marine and industrial waste management company Newalta.
Tim DesChamps, superintendent of waste management at the regional district, said the landfill will accept used oil filters, used oil, and empty oil containers. The oil will be stored in 45-gallon drums at the site and the plastics bagged. When the drums and bags are full, More Marine will collect them and transport them to Newalta's oil re-refinery in the lower mainland.
Mr. DesChamps said the regional district will not receive any compensation for offering the service, but it won't cost anything either.
The only catch is that the landfill can only accept residential waste, and not industrial oil, because of limited space.
But according to Ron Driedger, executive director of the BC Used Oil Management Association, the situation has also improved on the industrial oil front. Last year, it was pretty much impossible to recycle any oil products here. But the BCUOMA raised the rates it pays in the fall, and since then TLC Automotive in Masset has started collecting used oil, and North Arm Transportation takes it away.
BCUOMA now pays 28 cents per litre for used oil collected on the islands, far higher than the 17 cents per litre it pays in other remote areas. The organization, which collects fees when oil products are sold, also hiked its rates to $5.25 per kilogram for used oil containers and $1.50 per kilogram for used filters.
"It's certainly better than what it was, that's for sure," Mr. Driedger said. "We're happy about that."
Mr. Driedger said More Marine will pick up industrial oil, filters and containers at the south end of the islands if any companies are interested.