Motor Oil Recycling Program Begins Here

Staff, The Randolph Leader, Roanoke, AL

Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent, slow to degrade and contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals that pose a health threat to humans, plants and animals.  Used oil from a single oil change (approximately one gallon) can ruin a million gallons of fresh water.        Nearly 40 percent of oil changes are done by do-it-yourself auto owners who do not have a convenient, environmentally safe way to dispose of their old oil.  Project R.O.S.E. (Recycled Oil Saves Energy) has served as Alabama's statewide used motor oil collection and recycling program since 1977.        The Upper Tallapoosa Watershed Commission (UTWC) has teamed up with Project R.O.S.E. in order to establish an oil recycling program for Randolph County.  Working with UTWC to sponsor this program are Randolph County Extension System, Randolph County 4-H, Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District, Alabama Power Company, WELR, WalMart and The Randolph Leader.  Other organizations and companies are also being invited to help sponsor this program.        Project R.O.S.E - Randolph County has recycling containers in Roanoke at Main Street Citgo, 431 Fuel Connection and O.K. Tire Company; in Wedowee at Rusty's Exxon and Lakeview Auto Service; in Wadley at George's Texaco and Perry Oil Company; and in Woodland at Quality Repair Service.        UTWC will kick off the Randolph County program by helping sponsor a school contest and rewarding the school that collects the most used oil.  The school contest will run from Nov. 1 to the end of April. Prizes will be at least $650 for first place, $450 for second, $350 for third, $250 for fourth, and $150 for fifth.   Prize money will be increased if additional sponsors can be found.        Each school that participates will need to have someone to keep track of the amount collected and the location where the oil was turned in.  No oil will be collected at the schools.  Students will get a voucher from the school, take oil to a recycling location and pour it into the recycling container.  The station attendant will mark the number of gallons turned in and stamp the voucher.  The student will return the stamped voucher to the school so schools can report monthly the total number of gallons collected and how many gallons were turned in at each location. Each school is free to determine how it will use any prize money.        In order to provide more environmental information about this project, 4-H Club and enrichment meetings focused on oil recycling and water quality will be held during the contest period. Educational booklets and materials will be printed with the booklet cover used to acknowledge Project R.O.S.E. - Randolph County sponsors and cooperators.  These materials will be distributed at each of the schools.        If your organization or school would like to participate in this environmental program, contact Stan Roark at Randolph County Extension System, P.O. Box 227, Wedowee, AL  36278 or phone (256) 357-2841.