British Columbia Used Oil Management Association

he British Columbia Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) is a not-for-profit organization open to all brand-owners of lubricating oil, oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze and antifreeze containers in British Columbia. Headquartered in Chilliwack, BCUOMA aims to facilitate and increase the collection, management and recycling of used oil and used antifreeze materials in British Columbia. The used oil and antifreeze materials recycling program offers British Columbians an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution to dispose of used oil, used antifreeze, oil filters, as well as plastic oil and antifreeze containers. A multi-stakeholder Board of Directors manages BCUOMA, with representatives from manufacturing, retail, local government and the public at large. As of July 2011, the BC Used Oil Management Association now oversees the management of antifreeze recycling across British Columbia. Today, the antifreeze recycling program is similar in structure, communication and execution as the used oil recycling program. It is expected that approximately 10 million litres of automotive antifreeze is sold in British Columbia every year. About 45% of the antifreeze sold will be available for collection and recycling. The other 55% is lost in use through broken hoses, evaporation, leakage, and overheated radiators. It is expected that about 3 million litres of used antifreeze will be collected and recycled in the first full year of the program’s operation.