An organization committed to raising awareness on the importance of recycling used oil made a stop in Squamish on Thursday (July 9).
Kalina Hadziev and Laura-Leigh McKenzie, ambassadors for the B.C. Used Oil Management Association, drove into town in a hybrid car, colourfully painted with blue water bubbles with two big black spots on each side, to visit local businesses that accept used oil, oil filters and plastic containers.
"We feel like there's a fair bit of awareness to recycle used oil, but there's always room for improvement," Hadziev said.
The program, which started in 2003, aims to encourage more people to recycle oil. Recovery rates across the province have increased since its inception - used oil recovery has increased by 40 per cent, oil filter recovery by 80 per cent, and plastic container recovery by 61 per cent.
One drop of oil can contaminate one million drops of water, according to the association. McKenzie compared it to a drop of oil in an above ground swimming pool.
"That's why our message is 'every drop of oil makes a difference,'" she said. "So it's very important to our environment so that we can keep our ecosystems safe."
Hadziev reminded that there is no cost for recycling at approved locations.
"They'll take your stuff with theirs and make sure it is property recycled," she said.
For a list of places that accept used oil, filters and containers, visit www.usedoilrecycling.com. The association reminds people to only recycle during business hours.
