BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA), a not-for-profit group dedicated to the collection and recycling of used lubricating oil, oil filters, oil containers, used antifreeze and antifreeze containers in British Columbia, has announced the winners of their fourth annual Top Collector Awards. 30 B.C. public recycling centres have been honoured for their exemplary performance and dedication to the collection of used oil and antifreeze materials across the province throughout 2022. 

“I am so proud of these collectors and how they have been operating their businesses,” said David Lawes, CEO, BC Used Oil Management Association. “Our ability to properly recycle and re-introduce used materials back into B.C.’s circular economy is important work that requires growing infrastructure to enable safe collection, handling, and storage. Every single one of these collectors contributes to keeping our local communities stronger and healthier due to their ongoing commitment to keeping oil, filters, antifreeze and their containers, out of landfills.”

BCUOMA’s criteria to determine the top collectors included:

1. The total amount of used oil, oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze and antifreeze containers collected at the RCF location.
2. The total number of years participating in BCUOMA’s RCF program.
3. A demonstration of continued support of BCUOMA and other recycling stewardship related programs.

“We have five new public recycling centres making their debut on the list this year, including Barry Beecroft Fuel Distributors Ltd. in Princeton, Great Canadian Oil Change (Richter Street) in Kelowna, Mr. Lube #159 in Coquitlam, North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre in North Vancouver, and United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre in Coquitlam,” said Lawes. 

2022 Top Collector Award winners:

Rank	City	Name
1	Burnaby	City of Burnaby Eco-Centre
2	Abbotsford	GFL Environmental Depot
3	Maple Ridge	Ridge Meadows Recycling Society
4	Victoria	Hartland Landfill
5	Aldergrove	Aldergrove Return-It Depot
6	Williams Lake	Jepson Petroleum Ltd
7	Surrey	Semiahmoo Bottle Depot
8	Prince Rupert	Petro Canada (Prince Rupert – Marina)
9	Quesnel	Jepson Petroleum Ltd.
10	Surrey	Titanium Ford
11	Duncan	Bings Creek Recycling Centre
12	Vernon	Interior Freight & Bottle Depot Ltd.
13	Mission	Mission Recycling Depot
14	Richmond	City of Richmond Recycling Depot
15	Kamloops	Castle Fuels (2008) Inc.
16	Fort St. John	Fort St. John Co-op Association – 100 Ave
17	Princeton	Barry Beecroft Fuel Distributors Ltd.
18	Kelowna	Great Canadian Oil Change (Kelowna-Richter)
19	Castlegar	Ernie’s Used Auto Parts
20	Vancouver	South Van Bottle Depot
21	Prince George	Jepson Petroleum Ltd.
22	Terrace	Petro Canada
23	Coquitlam	Mr. Lube #159
24	North Vancouver	North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre
25	Lower Nicola	Lower Nicola Eco-Depot (TNRD)
26	Chilliwack	Chilliwack Bottle Depot
27	100 Mile House	Castle Fuels (2008) Inc.
28	Victoria	GFL Environmental Depot
29	Prince George	Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill
30	Coquitlam	United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre

For the third year in a row, BCUOMA selected one outstanding recycling centre as the Most Improved for increasing its collection of used oil and antifreeze materials by the largest percentage. 

2022 Most Improved Award Winner

Aldergrove

Aldergrove Return-It Depot

BCUOMA also introduced a new award for 2022 that recognizes the top government facility. 

2022 Government Facility Award Winner

Richmond

City of Richmond Recycling Depot

“Our partnerships with local governments, regional districts and municipalities are key to the success of our recycling program. We appreciate all the work these groups do to ensure their residents have access to convenient and free recycling facilities that are safe and easy to use,” said Lawes. 

“The City of Richmond has a long-standing commitment to support and encourage our residents to use our recycling infrastructure to divert waste from landfills,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie, City of Richmond. “This award is further recognition of the work and dedication of Council and City staff to create a greener environment by expanding the number of items accepted for recycling. Our award-winning Recycling Depot continues to provide a convenient, one-stop drop-off location for residents to reuse, repurpose and recycle multiple items including oil.”

BCUOMA continues to look for opportunities to upgrade and improve recycling facility locations across the province to provide British Columbians with reasonable access to convenient and free used oil recycling centres. BCUOMA’s infrastructure grant program requires the responsible environmental handling, collection, transportation, storage, processing, and recycling of used oil and antifreeze material using economic, efficient, and environmentally acceptable options. Municipalities, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other sectors interested in a BCUOMA infrastructure grant can find out more information at https://bcusedoil.com/infrastructure-grants/.

Used oil is a valuable resource and if it is recycled at one of BCUOMA’s dedicated public recycling centres it can be recovered and re-used. Used oil can be re-refined into new lubricating oil or material inputs for manufacturing or energy products. Additionally, used oil filters contain metal, which is recycled into metal products like rebar, nails, and wire. Used oil and antifreeze containers are recycled and used to manufacture new oil containers, drainage tiles, and parking curbs. Used antifreeze is refined and reused as new automotive antifreeze. A comprehensive listing of all the public recycling centres across B.C. can be found at https://bcusedoil.com/find-a-recycling-centre.

BCUOMA would like to acknowledge that the used oil recycling facilities listed above are located on traditional territories of First Nations people from across British Columbia.

About BC Used Oil Management Association

Formed in 2003, the British Columbia Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) is a collaborative, not-for-profit group dedicated to the collection and recycling of used lubricating oil, oil filters, oil containers, used antifreeze and antifreeze containers in BC. Each year approximately 50 million litres of oil, and three million litres of antifreeze are collected and responsibly managed through BCUOMA’s network of public recycling centres and generators across the province. Assisted by manufacturers and first sellers of oil and antifreeze products, BCUOMA’s goal is to provide all British Columbians with a convenient, free, and eco-friendly way to recycle program materials. For general BCUOMA information, visit https://bcusedoil.com.