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"Don't Pour South Carolina's Future Down The Drain!"
Do-it-yourself oil changers in South Carolina recycled more than 1 million gallons of used oil in 1999, the ninth consecutive year a record amount was collected, according to figures released today by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. DIYers recycled 1,017,877 gallons of used oil last year. Since the used oil recycling program began in 1990, DIYers have recycled more than 5.5 million gallons of used oil. In addition, DIYers recycled 238 tons of used oil filters (477,940 filters) and 69 tons of used oil bottles in 1999.
"The proof is in the numbers - we have one of the nation's best and most comprehensive used oil recycling programs targeting DIYers," said William W. Culler, director of DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling. "This would not be possible without DIYers taking the time to do what is right and recycle their used oil." "There is no excuse for anyone to improperly dispose of used oil in South Carolina, what with more than 600 sites across the state for DIYers," said David Mundy, manager of Santee Cooper's Give Oil For Energy Recovery program or GOFER program. Of all the used oil recycled last year from DIYers, the state-owned electric and water utility collected 828,130 gallons and took the used oil to generating stations for energy recovery.  Of the remaining used oil collected in 1999, Advance Auto Parts stores collected 93,338 gallons and Auto Zone stores collected 33,530 gallons. Several other businesses collected the remaining used oil. "On behalf of the state, I would like to thank Santee Cooper and the other businesses that collect the used oil from DIYers," Culler said. "Without this kind of joint effort, this program would not work."
DHEC has developed a statewide awareness program on used oil recycling. The program includes NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, who serves as the state's spokesperson on used oil recycling and appears in a 30-second public service announcement. The Office also has developed three nationally award-winning 30-second PSAs starring the Recycle Guys. In addition, a special program for high school driver education classes has been developed. The program includes a special used oil recycling lesson and presentation to the class, which includes a video specifically targeted at high school students. "We have the perfect opportunity to educate students right when they are beginning a lifetime of driving," Culler said. "In short, we will continue to make the public aware of the environmental consequences of improperly disposed of used oil and of the importance of recycling." DHEC is currently working on plans to set up collection tanks for farmers in several locations throughout the state, to expand the program accept gasoline and oil mixtures, and to provide cleaner used oil bottles for the recycling marketplace.  South Carolina's used oil recycling efforts began in 1990 when Santee Cooper collected about 650 gallons of used oil from DIYers over two days as part of the Earth Day awareness. Overall, Santee Cooper collected about 3,000 gallons of used oil in 1990 that resulted in the beginning of the GOFER program. Later, a public-private partnership was formed to promote public awareness on the proper disposal of used oil by DIYers. The S.C. Used Oil Partnership includes DHEC, Santee Cooper, the S.C. Petroleum Council and the S.C. Department of Transportation. DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling serves as the hub of the partnership, providing grant funding to local governments to set up and maintain used oil recycling programs. There are more than 600 sites across South Carolina, including sites in each of the state's 46 counties. In addition, 40 counties have programs that accept used oil filters. Twenty-three counties have programs that accept used oil bottles.
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