Finland could become a black market for waste oil, warns the Environment Ministry

At the hazardous waste recycling station, waste oil is poured into a container.
“Some people are probably unknowingly doing this wrong,” says an expert from the Ministry of the Environment. Photo from the hazardous waste recycling station in the Kivikko district of Helsinki on 16 March.

The Ministry of the Environment warns that higher energy prices are creating a market in Finland where waste oil is burned illegally.

The Environment Ministry is concerned that higher energy prices are creating a black market for waste oil in Finland, where it ends up being illegally burned.

Waste oil in the wrong place pollutes water and soil, and burning it causes emissions. In addition, the benefits of recycling are lost, as waste oil can be recycled indefinitely.

Waste oil from businesses, such as used lubricating oils from cars, tractors and machinery, is excluded from legal waste treatment. Waste oil is hazardous waste and its disposal is regulated by law.

– Some are probably acting incorrectly in this matter without knowing it.

The Ministry of the Environment’s concern is based on discussions with the authorities supervising business, transport and environmental centers, as well as information from Kierrätysteollisuus ry and the companies responsible for the collection of waste oil.