Oil & Glycol

Oil & Glycol

Why Recycle Oil & Glycol 

Just one litre of used oil could pollute one million litres of drinking water. By recycling your used products, you help protect New Brunswick’s environment. Used oil is a source of energy for commercial and industrial consumers. Oil and diesel fuel filters, made mostly of metal, are crushed and sent to a steel mill for recycling. Glycol is cleaned and, depending on the additives, the new coolant is sold to commercial and industrial consumers. Containers for oil and glycol are made of high-quality plastic. Once cleaned and decontaminated, they are recycled into new containers and other products.

Where to Recycle

Key Program Info

You can recycle:

  • oil containers of 50 litres or less
  • glycol containers of 50 litres or less

Glycol - Ethylene or propylene glycol used, or intended for use, as a vehicle or commercial engine coolant.

Oil - Petroleum or synthetic derived crankcase oil, engine oil and gear oil, and hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid and heat transfer fluid, and fluid used for lubricating in machinery and equipment.

Oil filter - Any spin-on or element type fluid filter used in hydraulic, transmission or internal combustion engine applications (except gasoline filters) which includes oil filters, a diesel fuel filters, oil storage tank fuel filters and household furnace oil filters.
The following products are not recyclable through the UOMA program:

  • Plumbing antifreeze;
  • Windshield washer antifreeze;
  • Lock de-icer and antifreeze;
  • Gasoline and diesel fuel antifreeze.
A stewardship plan shall apply to the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, processing or other handling of oil, oil filters, oil containers, glycol and glycol containers that are sold, offered for sale or distributed within the Province. For more details, please see the approved stewardship plan, which expires on December 31, 2025.

About the Program

Since 2014, It has been easy for you to recycle used oil, oil filters, oil containers, glycol and glycol containers in New Brunswick. Recycle NB oversees an industry-led, and financed, oil and glycol management plan. The Atlantic Used Oil Management Association (UOMA) manages the plan in New Brunswick on behalf of industry. The plan covers the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of oil and glycol products.

Frequently Asked Questions

You do not pay a recycling fee for the disposal of used oil and glycol products. The oil and glycol management program is industry-led and financed. It covers the costs of manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of these products. UOMA manages the plan on behalf of industry.

Funding for the program comes from fees paid to the non-profit organization by its industry members. Industry may either absorb the cost or pass it on to the consumer in the price of its products.
Government sets the rules and regulations for waste reduction and diversion in New Brunswick.

The Department of the Environment administers the Clean Environment Act. Under the Act, the Minister has the power to designate materials to be managed. To date the Minister has designated tires, paint, electronics, and oil and glycol.

Recycle NB is the board that oversees waste reduction programs for government. It approves industry-developed waste management plans and sets a level-playing field for industry by establishing standards and ensuring that they apply to all producers. Recycle NB administers the used oil and glycol recycling program and ensures that it complies with the regulations.
Used oil and glycol are among the most important sources of recyclable liquid waste in New Brunswick. These products are dangerous to our environment. They can contaminate our water and soil and take up space in landfills. By properly recycling and disposing of these products, we can protect our environment and reduce the amount of waste in our landfills. When recycled, these products may be used repeatedly.
Used oil has long been used as a source of energy for commercial and industrial consumers. Oil and diesel fuel filters are made mostly of metal. Therefore, any remaining fluid is drained from them. Then, they are crushed and sent to a steel mill for recycling.

Using a multi-step process, the glycol is cleaned and, depending on the additives, the new coolant is then ready for sale to commercial and industrial consumers.

Containers for oil and glycol are made of high-quality plastic. They are collected, cleaned, decontaminated and recycled into new containers and other products.
One litre of used oil could contaminate one million litres of water. By recycling used oil and glycol products, New Brunswickers do their part to help to protect our environment.
Industry is responsible for the oil and glycol recycling program. UOMA manages the program for industry. It deals with the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of these products.
The oil and glycol management program is industry-led and financed. Industry covers the costs of manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of these products. UOMA manages the plan on behalf of industry. Funding for the program comes from fees paid to the non-profit organization by its industry members. Industry may either absorb the cost or pass it on to the consumer in the price of its products.