Minister wins support on waste oil review

28/6/07
Environment Minister David Templeman has won national support for an urgent review of the failing Federal Government scheme to promote recycling of waste oil.
Mr Templeman said the Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting of State and Federal Environment Ministers earlier this month backed his submission to urgently form a working group to investigate the waste oil glut and develop solutions as a priority.
"Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged that it was an important and urgent issue," he said.
The Federal Product Stewardship Program for Oil involves the payment of a small levy when oil is purchased. This levy allows a rebate to be provided for oil recycling, however Western Australia has not been receiving a fair share of these rebates.
"I raised the issue at the council because there is currently about 20 million litres of waste oil being stored in WA and this problem is likely to hit the other States and territories in future," Mr Templeman said.
The Minister said WA's waste oil collection had slowed and many operators were now storing the product on site.
"This not only presents an environmental risk in the event of any spillage or leakage, it is also a fire hazard," he said.
Mr Templeman said that about half of the lubrication oil from private motor vehicles and the resources industry ended up as waste oil.
There were now very limited markets for waste oil in WA since Loongana Lime in Kalgoorlie, which used a large percentage of waste oil as burner fuel, had closed and other users were turning to gas as a more environmentally friendly alternative.
"New markets have been identified in Singapore and South-East Asia that could receive up to 20 million litres of waste oil from WA over the next 12 months,"
Mr Templeman said.
"This will solve the problem while we look for other long term solutions, such as the potential for using waste oil in the manufacture of bitumen.

"Shipments could begin within the next few weeks, however the Commonwealth would have to approve the shipments under the Basel Convention which is the international treaty on the control of exports and disposal of hazardous wastes.
"I have raised this with the Federal Minister and have asked him to expedite any such application from WA oil recyclers as quickly as possible."
Minister's office - 9220 5050