May 30, 2006

Yatauro and Denenberg’s push to purchase cost-saving re-refined motor oil results in new County energy policy

Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove) and Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) today announced that Nassau County’s Administration will now purchase energy and cost-saving re-refined oil for use in County vehicles, thanks to their urging to do so.  Refining used oil takes about one-third the energy of refining crude oil to lubricant quality. Re-refining also reduces imports, creates American jobs, and makes our country less dependent on foreign resources.

“Buying recycled products results in many environmental benefits,” said Legislator Yatauro. “Specifically, buying re-refined oil helps to conserve a natural resource and decrease the need for imported oil and oil drilling while reducing improper disposal and spills resulting in a cleaner, less polluted environment.  I am very pleased that the County Executive and our administration have adopted a policy to purchase re-refined oil for our many County vehicles.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Legislator Diane Yatauro looks on as Jeff Wider and Matthew Boglioli, automotive servicemen with the Nassau County Department of Public Works, using re-recycled oil, perform an oil change on a Nassau County truck.

“I am pleased that we are able to make one more key step forward towards the county having a comprehensive clean energy policy,” said Legislator Denenberg.

“This is a win-win for Nassau County since it conserves this valuable natural resource, lowers energy costs, and reduces pollution in our neighborhoods,” said Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. “Using recycled motor oil in our fleet vehicles results in a greener, cleaner Nassau County.”

Buying recycled goods supports recycling programs by creating markets for the collected materials that are processed and used to manufacture new products.  The County’s purchase and use of recycled oil will aid the market for re-refined oil and send an important message to encourage the proper recycling of oil in the County.  Buying re-refined oil products helps to “close the loop” for these products. It creates increased demand for used oil and encourages consumers and businesses to properly handle and recycle their waste oil, rather than dumping it down the drain to contaminate groundwater, waterways and harbors and destroy wildlife. 

"By purchasing re-refined motor oil for use in county vehicles Nassau is doing its part to reduce dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels while also encouraging protection of our groundwater, estuaries, and oceans through recycling,” said Maureen Dolan Murphy, Program Coordinator, Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

"We commend the County for greening their fleet," said Michael White, Chair of the Long Island Chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Re-refining is an energy-efficient and environmentally beneficial method of managing used oil."

Re-refined oil is used motor oil that undergoes an extensive re-refining process to remove contaminants and produce new base oil that is as good as or better than oil made from crude. This base oil is then sold to blenders who add additive packages to produce lubricants such as motor oil, transmission fluid, and grease. A molecule of re-refined oil is identical to a molecule of oil made from crude, because oil doesn’t wear out, it just gets dirty.

Re-refining avoids the pollution associated with drilling and transport of crude oil. In addition, under American Petroleum Institute (API) certification, re-refined oil meets the same standards as virgin oil.  Field studies conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concluded that re-refined oil is equivalent to virgin oil, passes all prescribed tests, and can even outperform virgin oil. 

All three major U.S. automobile manufacturers--Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler--now recognize that re-refined oil meets the performance criteria specified in their warranties.  Each has issued a written statement explaining that the use of re-refined motor oil will not void warranties. 

The cost of re-refined motor oil varies by market as compared to virgin motor oil.  In many instances, organizations have achieved significant savings by purchasing re-refined motor oil.