Page 28 - May June 2016 Vol 34 No1
P. 28
KNOXVILLE By Kathleen Gibi
Used Motor Oil Heats City Facility
Residents will now be helping the City to power the heating oil off-site.
unit for a City of Knoxville facility when they take advantage of a The HHW facility also will collect and recycle used oil filters.
free service to recycle used motor oil. Thanks to a $12,000 Used The HHW Facility is open to City of Knoxville and Knox
Oil Grant through the Tennessee Department of Environmental
Conservation, the City of Knoxville Household Hazardous Waste County residents to dispose of household hazardous materials
Facility installed the equipment this month. free of charge while protecting both environmental and human
health standards.
City Public Service Department officials obtained the grant to
purchase an oil heater that runs on used motor oil and to make Used oil collection area with
upgrades for the collection process when receiving the used mo- canopy and concrete pad.
tor oil from the public.
“We are excited to explore and implement new technologies
like this one,” said Rachel Butzler, the City’s new Solid Waste
Manager. “We encourage responsible and sustainable ways to
handle our waste stream.”
The heating unit will heat a three-bay garage at the City’s Elm
Street location that houses Public Service equipment and work
space. A new canopy and raised concrete pad will protect the
used oil collection tank from rainwater and also prevent oil-
contaminated runoff during rains. Additional absorbent pads
and booms will help contain spills that occur as residents drop
off and transfer the used motor oil.
Each year, the City of Knoxville recycles about 12,000 gallons
of used motor oil from the public and City service vehicles
through an off-site contractor. Re-using a portion of the oil
on-site provides additional benefits of reduced heating costs to
the City as well as reduced transportation costs of hauling the
28 TPW May/June 2016
Used Motor Oil Heats City Facility
Residents will now be helping the City to power the heating oil off-site.
unit for a City of Knoxville facility when they take advantage of a The HHW facility also will collect and recycle used oil filters.
free service to recycle used motor oil. Thanks to a $12,000 Used The HHW Facility is open to City of Knoxville and Knox
Oil Grant through the Tennessee Department of Environmental
Conservation, the City of Knoxville Household Hazardous Waste County residents to dispose of household hazardous materials
Facility installed the equipment this month. free of charge while protecting both environmental and human
health standards.
City Public Service Department officials obtained the grant to
purchase an oil heater that runs on used motor oil and to make Used oil collection area with
upgrades for the collection process when receiving the used mo- canopy and concrete pad.
tor oil from the public.
“We are excited to explore and implement new technologies
like this one,” said Rachel Butzler, the City’s new Solid Waste
Manager. “We encourage responsible and sustainable ways to
handle our waste stream.”
The heating unit will heat a three-bay garage at the City’s Elm
Street location that houses Public Service equipment and work
space. A new canopy and raised concrete pad will protect the
used oil collection tank from rainwater and also prevent oil-
contaminated runoff during rains. Additional absorbent pads
and booms will help contain spills that occur as residents drop
off and transfer the used motor oil.
Each year, the City of Knoxville recycles about 12,000 gallons
of used motor oil from the public and City service vehicles
through an off-site contractor. Re-using a portion of the oil
on-site provides additional benefits of reduced heating costs to
the City as well as reduced transportation costs of hauling the
28 TPW May/June 2016
