GEIR - Groupement Européen
de l'Industrie de la Régénération
European Re-refining
Industry section
General
Used mineral lubricating oils represent the largest amount of liquid, non-aqueous hazardous waste in the world. GEIR member companies are active throughout Europe in supporting the collection of used oils and re-refining these back to valuable lubricant base oils.
GEIR (Groupement Européen de l'Industrie de la Régénération), the European Re-refining Industry Association, is a section of UEIL (Union Européenne des Indépendants de l'Industrie des Lubrifiants), which is located in Brussels. GEIR has its office in Brussels from where it can easily communicate and exchange information with the European official bodies (Commission, Council and Parliament).
According to the EU Directive on the Disposal of waste oils (75/439/CEE modified by 87/101/CEE), some important definitions have been made (article 1) :
- Waste oils: any mineral-based lubrication or industrial oils which have become unfit for the use for which they were originally intended, and in particular used combustion engine oils and gearbox oils, and also mineral lubricating oils, oils for turbines and hydraulic oils.
- Regeneration: any process whereby base oils can be produced by refining waste oils, in particular by removing the contaminants, oxidation products and additives contained in such oils.
"The Waste Oil Directive (*) is designed to create a harmonised system for the collection, treatment, storage and disposal of waste oils, such as lubricant oils for vehicles and engines. The Directive also aims to protect the environment against the harmful effects of such operations. Waste oils are hazardous because they are carcinogenic. Untreated waste oils that are found in rivers, lakes and streams can threaten aquatic life. Untreated oils left on the ground can contaminate the soil. The Directive requires Member States to give priority to the regeneration of waste oils over other disposal methods." source : European Commission Press release - july 2002.
(*) Council Directive 75/439/EEC on waste oils as amended by Directive 87/101/EEC
Objective
It is of primary importance that one meets the actual needs in human activity by using the necessary resources and raw materials, without compromising the reserves in the long term, the needs of future generations and the quality of the environment.
The re-refining industry is entirely integrating this philosophy of sustainable development in its daily business : to save valuable raw material by reprocessing used products and turning it into a secondary raw material for the lubricants market, the quality of which can be compared to that of virgin base oils.
GEIR defends the interests of the re-refining industry and promotes a sound exchange of information on quantities of waste oils produced and types of renewed products offered by its member companies.
For this reason, permanent contacts are maintained with the European official bodies as well as with all private and public organisations that are showing interest in the very actual and crucial issue of the waste oil.
Members