RECYCLING
An estimated 350 million litres of new lubricant oil are used by businesses in South Africa every year. Of this oil, roughly 150 million litres are recycled, thanks to key role players such as BME.
Used oil pioneer extends
green footprint
T
he increased use of lubricating oil has created a need to recycle the used product, which contains many contaminants considered dangerous to the environment. This has necessitated the establishment of initiatives to ensure the responsible recycling of used oil. A leading recycler of used oil in South Africa is Omnia Group company BME, which accounts for around 20% of the countr y’s total volume of available used oil. For over three decades, BME has led the industr y in incorporating used oil into its world-class emulsion explosives, ensuring greener blasts and reducing environmental risk. The waste product is used as a fuel agent in the company’s high-quality emulsions.
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ReSource
BME is one of 21 companies in the ROSE (Recycling Oil Saves the Environment) Foundation, which supports a renewed drive to protect the environment – through managing the collection, storage and processing of used lubricating oil in South Africa.
Green footprint “BME offers cutting-edge products and ser vices at ever y stage in the explosives supply chain. As a leading, global manufacturer and supplier of explosives, we provide ever ything from basic commercial explosives to fully integrated ser vices – including detailed blast design and optimisation – depending on the client’s needs,” asser ts Dirk Voogt, GM: Production and Logistics, BME.
This commitment has seen BME receive many accolades. In 2021, it was recognised by the Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association (CAIA) for its contribution to a cleaner environment – winning the CAIA Responsible Care initiative of the year award, in the company projects: Categor y A segment. The award was for BME’s incorporation of used oil as a base product for its emulsion explosives, removing the risk that it could contaminate water or soil. According to Ramesh Dhoorgapersadh, GM: Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, BME, the initiative is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the company’s ongoing environmental, social and governance commitment.
