New Public Recycling Centre opens on Bowen Island

New return collection facility provides Bowen residents with an easy, free and environmentally friendly system to recycle used oil and antifreeze materials

We are very excited to announce the installation of a 10-foot modified sea container and a 1,000-litre tank at Bowen Island Municipality, located at 1063 Mount Gardner Road. The new infrastructure was provided through a grant from BCUOMA and this new public recycling centre will provide the residents of Bowen Island with an easy, free and eco-friendly system to return their used oil and antifreeze materials.

“Up until now, Bowen residents had to commute to the mainland to return their used oil and antifreeze materials to a BC Used Oil Management Association recycling depot. Now they have an easy-to-use, and free recycling facility that is conveniently located,” said David Lawes, CEO, BC Used Oil Management Association. “BCUOMA is continually looking at opportunities to provide British Columbians with reasonable access to new and upgraded public recycling centres across the province.”

BCUOMA’s infrastructure grant program requires the responsible environmental handling, collection, transportation, storage, processing and recycling of used oil and antifreeze material using economic, efficient and environmentally acceptable options. Municipalities, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other sectors interested in a BCUOMA infrastructure grant can find out more information at https://interchangerecycling.com/infrastructure-grants/.

Used oil is a valuable resource and if it is recycled at one of BCUOMA’s dedicated public recycling centres it can be recovered and re-used. Used oil can be re-refined into new lubricating oil or sold as raw material inputs for manufacturing or energy products. Additionally, used oil filters contain metal, which is recycled into metal products like rebar, nails and wire. Used oil and antifreeze containers are recycled and used to manufacture new oil containers, drainage tiles, and parking curbs. Used antifreeze is refined and reused as new automotive antifreeze.

BCUOMA would like to acknowledge that the Bowen Island Municipality’s used oil recycling centre is located on the traditional territories of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), Tsleil-Waututh (Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh), and Sechelt (Shíshálh) First Nations.

For more information on Bowen Island Municipality visit https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/home. 

A comprehensive listing of all of the RCFs across B.C. can be found at https://interchangerecycling.com/find-a-recycling-centre.