ROSE Foundation

Used lubricating oil is a lucrative commodity in South Africa that is largely reprocessed as a substitute for light industrial fuel oil. A marked increase in demand for it in recent years has caused a sharp rise in its collection and recycling, resulting in a greater need for managing such activity.

The ROSE Foundation (Recycling Oil Saves the Environment), was established in 1994 by the lubricants industry which includes the oil industry, to administer the environmentally acceptable collection, storage and recycling of used oil. Engen has held the ROSE board chairmanship for 13 years.

In March 2007 ROSE extended its role to that of influencing the management of the entire used oil environmental value chain. The body has, among others, facilitated the founding of the National Oil Recycling Association of South Africa (NORA-SA), representing all significant collectors and recyclers of used oil. Whereas pre-2007, the activities of a single collector were being funded, the new model incentivises the entire value chain.

Recyclers and processors are today required to maintain strict legal and environmental compliance at their plants: ISO 14001 compliance qualifies processors and recyclers for a volume-based processing incentive.

History of success

  • There has been significant improvement in oil recycling standards after ROSE's replacement of oil drums with subsidised steel storage tanks.
  • Members of NORA-SA collected about 65 million litres of used lubricating oil in 2008. In the 15 years since its formation ROSE influenced the collection of almost one billion litres of used oil.
  • The recycling process co-ordinated and incentivised by the ROSE Foundation has made a significant contribution to minimising pollution of soil and water through inconsiderate dumping, and to the air, through indiscriminate burning.
  • ROSE's R20 million budget funds public relations and advertising that creates awareness of used oil as a hazardous product that needs to be disposed of responsibly.
  • The Foundation maintains a website and toll-free number where interested groups can source information about used oil collection and recycling.
  • ROSE undertakes independent auditing of all stakeholders, including recyclers, to ensure compliance with environmental standards.