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Simple solutions for a more sustainable Saanich

Last winter many residents may have noticed a major automotive store in town stopped accepting waste oil.
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Last winter many residents may have noticed a major automotive store in town stopped accepting waste oil.

The signs pointed people to take waste oil to be recycled to Hartland landfill. How is this sustainable for the working class of Saanich to find an hour to use five litres of gasoline so they can recycle four litres of oil.

Hetherington Industries from Port Alberni currently collects waste oil and antifreeze free of charge from farms and businesses in the CRD as a service paid for by the eco fee you pay when purchasing oil. When oil prices were higher they even paid several cents per litre for waste oil.

Adding a waste oil drop area at the Saanich yard where the organics yard waste is currently dropped would not only add convenience to residents, it would eliminate thousands of litres of fuel being burnt yearly. It would relieve unnecessary traffic on West Saanich Road and oils potentially being disposed of on rural roads, in dumpsters and down the drains.

It will also free up residents’ spare time to enjoy the beautiful municipality we live in.

Nathalie Chambers

Saanich