31 lines
2.0 KiB
Plaintext
31 lines
2.0 KiB
Plaintext
FS417
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RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
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NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
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Recycling Used Motor Oil In New Jersey
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Theodore B. Shelton, PhD.
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Extension Specialist in Water Resources Management
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and
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Michael T. Olohan
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Public Information Coordinator
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Navesink River Watershed Project
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The Problem: A Wasted Resource
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According to the United States Department of Energy, nearly two-thirds of all used motor oil generated in the United States comes from "do-it-yourselfers" who change their own oil. If improperly disposed of, these 350 million gallons of oil can do substantial, immediate, and long-term harm to humans and animals, streams, lakes, estuaries, vegetation, and the quality of our air and drinking water.
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In New Jersey, the Association of Petroleum ReRefineries estimates that 19.5 million gallons of used oil are generated yearly. Of that, nine million gallons are generated by do-it-yourselfers. A study by the Service Stations of America found that do-it-yourselfers recycle only 14% of the waste oil they generate. Moreover, 62% of all petroleum-related pollution is estimated to be from used oil products.
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However, recycling of this valuable resource via rerefining into once-again reusable motor oil offers a significant means of reducing pollution, may eventually lower demand for foreign reserves, conserves finite natural resources, and protects the environment.
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Unfortunately, due to a lack of rerefiring capacity nationwide, nearly 80% of all used oil collected is reprocessed and burned as a fuel oil substitute and not rerefined. Nonetheless, the reuse of used motor oil is a vital component of any comprehensive recycling program.
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State law requires that all used motor oil be recycled. Used motor oil is the largest single source of oil pollution in our harbors and our waterways.
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What Makes Used Motor Oi |