Strategies for vehicle waste-oil management: a case study

The petroleum industry has grown at a very fast rate since its inception and became an indispensable element of society particularly in urban communities. Besides the fact that petroleum and crude oil are not inexhaustible resources, waste products resulting from this industry present a hazard to human health and the environment. As such, proper management of waste oil is necessary to prevent its adverse impacts. This paper describes current waste-oil management practices in Lebanon and identifies the extent of potential adverse environmental impacts associated with these practices. Strategies for proper waste-oil management are then proposed in the context of prevailing public perception and environmental awareness. Finally, the economic feasibility of waste-oil recycling as a management option is discussed, taking into consideration country-specific technical and socio-economic characteristics.