REGINA, Sask. — Saskatchewan’s oil-recovery program has led to the recycling of 79 per cent of used vehicle oil in 2001, up drastically from 30 per cent in 1996.

The province is aiming to improve that number this year and is currently educating motorists about the environmental hazards of vehicle oil.

“Used oil is the largest source of waste dangerous goods in the province,” says Saskatchewan’s Environment Minister, Pat Lorie. “I’m realistic enough to know that total recycling isn’t always possible, but if we don’t aim for perfection, we can’t even get close to perfection.”

In Manitoba, the effort to recycle more used vehicle oil is also ongoing, especially with EcoDay fast approaching on June 8. EcoDay is a Western Canadian initiative aimed at encouraging people to propertly recycle their used oil materials.

Manitoba Conservation Minister, Oscar Lathlin, says “one litre of used oil can contaminate a million litres of fresh water.”

To find out where you can drop off used oil, oil filters and oil containers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, you can visit www.usedoilrecycling.com. Some used oil is converted to low-grade burner fuel.