The House of Representatives approved a bill on Monday that would require a revamped federal strategy to promote the re-refining of used motor oil, a move that could help transportation companies and fleet managers lower costs and realize environmental benefits.
The bill, H.R. 1733, would require the secretary of energy to review and update an earlier report from the Department of Energy (DoE) on the benefits of re-refined motor oil. The report previously found that one gallon of used motor oil can produce 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil, the same amount as 42 gallons of crude oil.
U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA) introduced H.R. 1733 to renew federal strategies to promote the use of re-refining technologies.
“Our country is already re-refining lubricated oil through a process which rids the oil of harmful contaminants and restores the oil to its original effectiveness,’ Brooks said. “Some of the nation’s largest vehicle fleets recycle used oil for re-refining and procure re-refined oil, including the Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, National Park Service, and state and local authorities.”
Laboratory tests and field studies have found that re-refined oil meets the same refining, compounding and performance standards as virgin motor oil that’s used in cars, heavy-duty diesel trucks, hydraulic fluids, and gear oils, the earlier DoE report found. Re-refining also brings the added benefit of preventing used motor oil from polluting water and soil.
“In order to fully understand the benefits of recycling lubricated oil, we need an up-to-date report from the Department of Energy that will provide members of Congress with updated information that will better allow us to develop energy-saving and environmentally conscious policy in connection with how our nation uses and reuses lubricating oil,” Brooks added. “Having an updated report will also allow companies in Indiana and across the country to have a better understanding on how they can anticipate the needs of the federal government and provide the best quality product for American consumers.”