Kelowna

Over 18 million litres of used oil is not recovered by the BC Used Oil program each year.

These oils are extremely hazardous to our environment and drinking water; instead of sitting in our landfills, used oil can be recycled into a variety of useful products.

Photo: Grant Scott

Mr. Lube GM Brady Bloomer greets BCUOMA ambassadors Emily Louie and Ami Omelaniec.

In an attempt to reduce that number, the British Columbia Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) has launched the seventh annual Summer Ambassador Program.

BCUOMA is a not-for-profit organization responsible for the implementation of a province-wide recovery and recycling system for used oil, antifreeze, and their respective filters and containers.

BCUOMA is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of recycling these used oil materials.

On Friday, June 15, the BCUOMA Summer Ambassadors Ali Omelaniec and Emily Louie visited six Recycling Collection Facilities in Kelowna to promote the recycling of used oil and antifreeze.

Late Friday afternoon they visited Mr. Lube on Highway 97. .

"Mr. Lube is one of our return collection facilities across BC. We currently have 520. There are collectors who come around and collect the oil and reprocess it," says Omelaniec.

"A lot of people don't realize that oil and antifreeze can be recycled, so that's our job, to let them know where they can go to recycle their used oil and antifreeze materials."

The tour will see the two ambassadors travel to over 120 municipalities and over 500 recycling facilities throughout BC, spreading the message, “one drop makes a difference”.

"We're both really passionate about the environment and we feel that this is a great cause that we want to promote it," says Louie.

Mr. Lube General Manager Brady Bloomer welcomed Friday's visit.

"We're really happy to make it easy for people to make sure waste products end up in the right place," says Bloomer.

The ambassadors are back in action on Sunday, June 17, when they visit the Boyd Autobody Father’s Day Show & Shine event on from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at City Park.

 For more information about BCUOMA and a listing of collection facilities across the province, please visit www.usedoilrecycling.com.