The 3R Program Recycling at Northern Illinois University www.niu.edu NIU Calendar Campus Maps
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To contact us:
Phone:
815-753-0352
Fax:
815-753-6290

3R Program Physical Plant Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115

Oil Field Workers
Oil Products
Oil Tanker
Oil Tanker at Sunset
Oil Facts


  • Although the 3R Program doesn't accept oil, many gas stations, oil-changing outlets, and retailers will take you old oil and see that it gets recycled.
  • In 1994, 214 million gallons of oil were sold in California and of that, 122 million gallons of use oil were generated. Only 75 million gallons of that used oil were recycled properly which leaves 47 million gallons unaccounted for.
  • A quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of water and 1 acre of land 1 inch deep.
  • Americans throw away enough used motor oil every year to fill 120 supermarkets.
  • We make our own oil spills! About 62% of all oil-related pollution in the U.S. is caused by improper disposal of used motor oil and is the single largest source of oil pollution (over 40%) in our nation's waterways.
  • It is easier and cheaper to recycle used oil than to make new oil from crude. One gallon of used oil can produce the same amount of motor oil as 42 gallons of crude oil-while requiring about a third of the energy.
  • If all used motor oil in the U.S. were recycled, it would result in a savings of 1.3 million barrels of oil per day.
  • Used oil can be re-fined into good-as-new lubricating oil. Oil never wears out, it just gets dirty.
  • Used oil can be reprocessed into fuel oil, which contains about 140,000 BTU's of energy and can be curned efficiently.
  • The U.S. currently imports about 60% of our oil and within 20 years we will be importing 100% at a cost of $150 billion annually.
  • The world will need twice the raw materials in 2010 that it does today. Maintaining the same level of oil usage, will require discovering as much in the next 10 years as has been found in all of history.
  • Where possible, choose latex paint over oil paint. Because it contains fewer solvents, latex paint emits less odor, cleans up quickly with just soap and water, and dries rapidly. If you must use oil paint, be sure to dispose of it at a hazardous waste facility.
  • Some oil which is re-refined is not necessarily labled "recycled" because companies fear that consumers won't buy it. Ask the store manager which oils are refined and buy them.