Atlanta Lubricant Container Recycling Pilot - Frequently Asked Questions

The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition has launched an industry-first collaborative recycling pilot program that focuses on consumer plastic packaging for engine oil and other petroleum-based products.

A press release of the pilot program can be found here. Below are frequently asked questions related to the pilot.

Who is the NLCRC?

The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition or “NLCRC” is an industry-led technical coalition established by a committed group of industry leaders in lubricant and associated plastic packaging manufacturing, focused on establishing solutions for post-consumer recovery and recycling of plastic lubricant containers.  

Members include Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State Company, Graham Packaging, Plastipak Packaging, Berry Global, Chevron, the Petroleum Packaging Council, and Nexus Circular.

What is the NLCRC Atlanta Pilot?

The pilot is an industry-first one-year project involving over 40 locations in Atlanta, including select retail stores and auto care centers, instant oil change locations, and several commercial facilities. The pilot aims to assess and measure the economic and market drivers for post-consumer recovery and recycling, better understand consumer waste disposal behaviors, and define parameters for model development and future scalability. Project partners include Safety-Kleen and Nexus Circular.   

What is the problem with lubricant containers?

Post-consumer lubricant containers are typically landfilled in the US. Plastic oil containers are generally not collected in curbside recycling, not accepted by municipalities, nor processed by recycling facilities due to the potential contamination of the oil or lubricant they once contained. In fact, in several states, the lubricant product (such as oil) is deemed a Household Hazardous Waste, which poses a number of challenges to collection and aggregation. Due to residual oil in the container (as much as 2 ounces in a typical one-quart oil bottle), these containers are not readily handled with other recyclables due to the threat of contamination. Further, when the containers are disposed of in landfill, the residual oil poses a threat to the environment. 

What is the problem with recycling options for lubricant containers? 

Overall, the EPA’s estimate for the volume of plastics recycled nationally is about 5%. Due to the challenges with recycling plastic lubricant containers and given the costs of virgin plastics, there are minimal recycling solutions in the US. Unfortunately, landfills are the only economical choice for disposal over other options such as recycling. Additionally, little is known about consumer behaviors regarding lubricant bottle returns – many retailers and service locations offer used oil collection but cannot provide a recycling option for the original packaging.

What is the urgency related to lubricant bottle recycling? 

The end-of-life management of lubricant containers is concerning due to the low rate of degradation of plastics in landfills and the lack of recycling. In response to increasing consumer demands, packaging legislation is having a direct impact on stakeholder companies across the value chain. Several states have now passed laws requiring recycled content to be included in packaging (e.g., PCR); or fees assessed to producers (brand owners) for the amount of plastic packaging distributed in the state. These fees are used to fund state recycling infrastructure (e.g., EPR).

As of July 2022, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws have been passed in four state including Oregon, Maine, Colorado, and California. Post-Consumer Recycled content (PCR) laws have been passed in two states, including California and New Jersey. The passing of these laws is a demonstration of the societal demands for an industry solution, and only through collaboration can the industry move quickly enough to meet these existing and emerging legislative drivers. 

What is the NLCRC Atlanta Pilot? 

The NLCRC members and its project partners aim to execute a successful end-to-end solution by collecting and recycling post-consumer lubricant containers from multiple sources, including retailers in the Atlanta market. During the year-long project, the NLCRC will gather meaningful data and information to inform the NLCRC, its members, and partners with a better understanding of how to scale the program, with a long-term goal of becoming self-sustaining. 

Who is involved in the NLCRC Atlanta Pilot? 

NLCRC members are collaborating to lead the pilot program with the support of its project partners. In addition, the project involves over 40 locations in the Atlanta market, including select retail stores and auto care centers, instant oil change locations, and several commercial facilities. Collection and transportation of the lubricant containers is performed by Safety-Kleen. Nexus Circular recycles the lubricant containers. 

NLCRC packaging members are exploring ways to collect the recycled material processed by Nexus Circular for reuse in packaging applications. Testing is currently being performed by NLCRC members to determine suitable circular options.

How does the NLCRC Atlanta Pilot work?  

• Consumers drop off empty plastic lubricant containers (at participating retail sites only).

• Employees deposit empty lubricant containers received from their customers or their on-site auto service operations into labeled deposit bins.

• When full, the transporter (Safety-Kleen) removes the full deposit bins and replaces them with empty bins. 

• Collected lubricant containers are consolidated at local Safety-Kleen facilities before delivery to Nexus Circular.  

• NLCRC oversees the collection of data and information gathered during the pilot and is working with all stakeholders to adjust the process as necessary. 

What material is accepted? 

• Empty lubricant bottles that include oil, grease, anti-freeze, additives, and the like that have been drained by means of turning them upside down. 

• Caps are accepted along with empty lubricant bottles.

• Bottle sizes accepted include pint, quart, half-gallon, gallon, 5-gallon, and plastic 5-gallon buckets/pails without metal handles. 

What material is not accepted? 

• Food waste, wrappers, beverage bottles; liquid (water, oil, lubricant, etc.); paper, wood, plant debris, concrete

• Absorbents including sheets or pads, granulated, litter, dirt/soil

• Metal (any kind, including foil, bucket handles, etc.)

• Rags, clothing, paper towels, tissues, etc.

• Glass

• Restricted plastics including multi-layer films (product and food packaging), pouches or tubes, or bags in a box.

• Rope or twine

• Any other garage or auto service waste

How to get involved?

Visit the NLCRC website and blog for pilot updates. Connect with the NLCRC on Twitter and LinkedIn.  For questions and inquiries, send us an email at: hello@nationallcrc.com.