The downturn in the economy affects all business sectors including recycling. Currently our industry is confronted by low commodity prices. But we can’t stop recovering potentially hazardous materials because of the downturn.

To meet the challenge and encourage continued recycling, the Return Incentive (RI) for collectors/processors on used oil and antifreeze materials has been increased. This has taken place over the past year in Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

In Alberta, despite the decline in volumes of new oil products sold and used oil products recovered, the proportionate recovery (collection rates) increased 6% for both used oil and containers. The filter rate is down due to the current state of the scrap metal market for used oil filters.

But overall, the results – collections of used oil, filters, antifreeze, plastic oil/antifreeze/DEF containers and aerosol cans – have held up.