§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Department has examined the electro-tube oil refiner and assessed the effectiveness of the equipment for cleansing used oil for recycling.
§ Mr. GrayNo. I understand that this equipment will shortly be available in 129W the United Kingdom. I should be pleased to receive any information that my hon. Friend may have.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what savings have occurred in the field of lubricants as a result of the collection and treatment of waste oil;
(2) if he will give his estimate of the tonnage of lubricating oil wasted after use in the United Kingdom; and what steps his Department is taking to see that cycled oil is available for refining and re-use.
§ Mr. FoxI have been asked to reply.
Of about 500,000 tonnes of waste oil generated each year in the United Kingdom over 60 per cent. is recovered for reuse. Thus some 200,000 tonnes is wasted although it is estimated that only about 65,000 tonnes of this is suitable for recovery, the remainder being too heavily contaminated. The Department encourages local authorities to set up and publicise waste oil collections, at civic amenity points or garages. About four-fifths of the oil collected is used for heating; the remainder is refined and used for its original purpose. The total value of the saved oil, after processing, is of the order of £60 million.