OIL FILTER RECYCLING BILL NOT PASSED

Service station and repair shop dealers statewide recently dodged a bullet when the oil filter recycling bill A2881 introduced in the State Legislature was not considered in the Senate because it did pass the Assembly.  Had the bill passed the Senate and been signed by the Governor it would have mandated the recycling of used oil filters.  The provisions of the bill are as follows:

· It amends the New York State Environmental Conservation Law, in relation to used oil filters.

· It prohibits the disposal of used oil filters into the environment and encourages the recycling of the filters and the waste oil left in the filter.

· It allows the Commissioner of DEC to establish rules and regulations governing used oil filter generators, transporters, and processors.

· It requires service stations and repair shops that perform oil changes to crush the filter and remove the oil.

· It requires that the facility dispose of the used filter in an environmentally acceptable manner.

· It establishes requirements regarding fees and signs.

· It prohibits the disposal of used oil filters in landfill.

· It requires used oil filter transporters to maintain complete records.

· It requires the registration of used oil filter processors.

· It will regulate waste and used oil filters.

· It requires transporters and processors to submit an annual report to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

· It includes used oil filters in the existing recycling of used oil penalties.

The sponsor claims that, "current laws and regulations governing the prohibited disposal of used oil and establishing requirements for its safe management are not adequate to protect the environment from the estimated 700,000 gallons of waste oil which remains in the eighteen million used oil filters generated in the State each year.  Landfill disposal of this product should be prohibited as a pollution prevention measure. Service stations and other on-premises oil changing operations are the largest generators of used oil filters, and are the logical focus for safe management requirements, i.e., source separation of discarded filters. With significant amounts of steel and oil contained in each used filter, a recyclable, recoverable commodity can be prevented from contributing to the pollution of groundwater resources in New York State.  Furthermore, the recycling of used oil filters is a growing and profitable enterprise. There are both large and small companies in the business of managing used oil filters in NYS. This bill will encourage the growth of this industry and provide new jobs in all areas of the State."

    The Association has continued to aggressively oppose this bill because it produces an added   burden and expense to our industry.  The bill does not address the "do it yourself" oil and filter changer.  The bill will add an additional expense to provide oil change service.  These cost must be passed on the motorist.  As the price goes up so will the number of motorists changing their own oil.  Where will these filters go?  We have been successful in stopping this bill so far but it will be back in the next session.  We may need to find a solution that will satisfy the legislature and not be a burden to the industry.