Hazardous resources should be recycled properly

Prince William News

Gainesville Times

*Adapted from Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Hazardous Valuable Resources Used oil is a complex organic substance that consists of heavy metals and hydrocarbons like benzene. Antifreeze contains the toxic ingredient ethylene glycol or propylene glycol and used antifreeze may contain harmful heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium. Auto batteries contain harmful lead. All are health and environmental hazards. When dispose of properly, used motor oil, oil filters and antifreeze and automotive batteries can be recycled or "beneficially used." Oil doesn't wear out; it just gets dirty. Used oil can be cleaned, re-refined and used again and again.Used oil may be blended and recycled as a heating or industrial fuel and also may be re-refined and made into new lubricants. Likewise, up to 97% of a vehicle battery, also known as a lead acid battery is recyclable. The batterys materials can be used to make new batteries or other products. Auto batteries are crushed into nickel-sized pieces and plastic components and lead are separated. The plastic is reprocessed for manufacture into new plastic products and the purified lead is used by battery manufacturers and other industries. Even the used acid is recycled for reuse. A typical lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. Importantly, recycling these items saves precious resources, for example recycling antifreeze reduces the consumption of nonrenewable resources like oil and natural gas used to manufacture ethylene and propylene glycol.

Next time you change your own oil, or replace your battery, help prevent pollution and conserve energy and valuable resources by dropping off the used items at a collection center to be recycled.

For more information on recycling or proper disposal of hazardous materials visit http://www.pwcgov.org/trashandrecycling or call the Solid Waste Division at 703-792-4670.

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Hazardous resources should be recycled properly