Can We Recycle Gear Oil? 4 Helpful Tips
How many of us know that we need to change our gear oil per 5000 kilometers? Apparently, this is the standard for every car and it was a surprise for me when I stumbled upon it.
This also tickled my logical side of the brain (don’t know if it’s left or right), but this means that a huge amount will be disposed of and the number according to Scientific American is 1.3 billion Gallon.
This number looks like it is detrimental to anyone whether it is to the society, environment, or us. So that got me thinking, can we recycle gear oil and perhaps reuse it? Read this article to find out.
The answer is yes, we can recycle our gear oil. There are many companies out there that will recycle it for us. They will take our used gear oil and turn it into synthetic lubrication to be used in a variety of industrial and automotive machinery.
This is a good thing because the cost of petroleum is at an all-time high and recycling will save costs as well as keep our cars running smoothly.
We also have to consider that purchasing new gear oil is not cheap either, which makes recycling gear oil even more appealing. It’s not just the cost factor, but also the environmental factors involved with disposing of used gear oil.
If we answer that, we will not see any helpful tips to get us a better understanding of the process.
Here are a few tips we should follow through:
1. Develop A Consistent Recycling Process
When we have a consistent recycling process, this could greatly affect our customers.
This will also reduce the amount of carbon footprint. The following is a step-by-step process for us to develop a constant recycling process.
2. Having The Right Tank Size
Having the right tank size is very important when storing our used oil to prevent spills and leaks. We need to choose a tank that fits the size of our collection process. It is better to have a bigger tank to avoid spillage or leaks.
It is also good to have the storage tank at a higher level than the ground. If our storage tank is at a higher level from the ground, it will be safe from the danger of oil spills and leaks.
3. Properly Store Used Gear Oils
Properly storing used gear oils could maintain their useful properties and protection against deterioration and contamination, making it easier for future recycling or disposal processes.
We also need to store our used oil in a cool and dry place.
4. Make Sure To Separate Our Used Gear Oils
Separating used gear oils could be the best way to reuse our waste oils for other purposes.
For example, if I have five different types of lubricants, I can separate them into five different containers without affecting the quality of the lubricants and it will be easier for future recycling.
What Are the Benefits of Recycling Gear Oil?
There are many benefits of recycling gear oils. Recycling gear oils can save our environment from contamination. It is also a very good way to learn about machinery and its respective parts.
Saving Soil And Water From Pollution
In addition to benefiting the environment, recycling gear oils can help save our soil and water from being polluted. Recycling gear oil will help us to use natural resources wisely.
Most of the lubricants used in our daily life are petroleum-based. Petroleum-based lubricants are very harmful to our land and people’s health. The main goal of recycling used oil is to protect soil, water, and air because they have been contaminated by these petroleum-based lubricants.
Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
Recycling gears will save energy because we do not have to create new gears all the time. Also, disposing of used gear oil is a very difficult process. By recycling them, we are choosing to reduce our carbon footprint.
Recycling gear oil will also help reduce our dependence on oil. By using recycled gear oils, we can reduce the amount of oil we use each day, which means that less petroleum is being used for fuel and as a raw material.
What To Look For In Oil Recycling Companies?
Gear oil and other lubricants need proper disposal and recycling. If we are recycling our used gear, then we need to find a reliable company to deal with this process. Here are some tips on what to look for in oil recycling companies:
1. Cost-Effective Service
When looking for an oil recycling company, we should look for one which provides cost-effective service. We do not want to spend more money than we have to.
So, we must make sure that the company that we choose can provide a whole solution for our needs without costing too much money.
2. High Yield of Recycled Oil
The oil recycling company we choose should be able to provide high-quality oil and environmentally friendly products.
Because we could have to wait for a long time for our used oil to be recycled, we will want to make sure that the service provided by the company is efficient, economical, and effective.
3. Certification
Recycling gear oil is not only important to our health, but it also helps protect the environment we are living in. Before we decide to take our used oil, make sure that the company is reliable and has the latest certification.
We should choose an oil recycling company that employs certified employees. This will make sure that our gear oil or other lubricants will be recycled properly using proper procedures and technology.
4. Experience
Make sure that the oil recycling company we are choosing has a wide range of experience in recycling. This will help make sure that our old gears will be processed properly.
Experience also helps in knowing how to properly recycle our gears so that they do not cause any environmental damage during their procedures.
5. Check For The Latest Certification
Once we have found an oil recycling company, we have to make sure that they have the latest certification.
Also, make sure that the company is registered and has a policy to recycle waste oil.
Conclusion
Gear lubes are multi-purpose and contain additives that help prevent rust and corrosion in machine parts involved in heavy machinery such as industrial machinery. Oils used as gear lubes also contain additives that make them more effective than petroleum oils.
It is important to recycle our used gear oils because they are very harmful to the environment if not properly disposed of or recycled.
Lubricants contain many parts which could cause harm to people who come in contact with it and make the environment very toxic if they are discharged into our rivers and streams.
References
Importance Of Waste Oil Management Recycling
Recycling/Disposal of Used Oil
5 Tips For Recycling Vehicle Fluids