Dear Ms. Gardezi,

I am writing to you on behalf of the British Columbia Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) in response to the June 26 article ‘Used oil and recycling a problem in Grand Forks’.  As a province-wide program, we encourage feedback from all communities and are always open to working together to continually improve.

Launched in 2003, BCUOMA is a not-for-profit organization that offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution to dispose of used oil, oil filters and plastic oil containers. The program is funded solely through an environmental handling charge (EHC) which is not a government tax, but instead an industry handling charge that facilitates the collection of used oil materials at 500 collection facilities and nearly 4,000 other generators across the province.

Though we have seen drastic improvements in the amount of used oil materials recovered, we recognize there are still issues that exist, as noted in the article. Although there is no easy solution, we believe that community members can play a significant role by ensuring that their used oil, filters and containers are recycled properly, which includes:

1. Returning used oil materials only during operating hours,

2. Returning uncontaminated used oil in a plastic oil container with a secure lid and

3.  Calling 1-866-254-0555 to arrange a bulk pick-up for larger quantities.

Currently, there are two businesses in Grand Forks that accept used oil from the do-it-yourselfers. To find out the locations closest to where you live, visit www.usedoilrecycling.com/bc and enter your postal code. 

It will give you the six closest locations to take back your used oil, filters and oil containers, with a map showing you where they are located. 

If you don’t have access to the internet you can phone toll free 1-800-667-4321.

As well, BCUOMA is always looking for new facilities to be part of the program. If you are interested, please visit that same website for more details.

We hope that everybody in Grand Forks continues to work together to keep the community a beautiful place by responsibly recycling their used oil materials.

Ron Driedger,

Executive Director, BCUOMA