Section 48600.

The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) The problem posed by used oil disposal requires a comprehensive, statewide response, including, but not limited to, eliminating illegal disposal, reducing landfill disposal of used oil, reducing pollution from stormwater runoff, recycling of used oil into new uses, and the promotion of secondary markets for recycled oil products.

(b) That the improper or illegal disposal of used oil, often mixed with other solid waste, is a potential source of stormwater pollution and that environmental education and mitigation efforts regarding proper management of used oil and oil byproducts is within the purposes of this chapter.

(c) California currently generates about 161 million gallons of used lubricating and industrial oil each year, and only about 50 percent of that oil is recycled.

(d) The scarcity of used oil collection centers and programs, and the charges imposed on consumers for recycling used oil, create economic disincentives for recycling that could be addressed through a recycling incentive program.

(e) Used oil represents a valuable state resource that should be reclaimed and recycled whenever possible. An abundance of used oil recycling alternatives exist that have been demonstrated to be environmentally safe. These alternatives need to be promoted in order to achieve the maximum use of used oil and prevent damage to the environment.

(f) It is the intent of the Legislature to reduce the illegal disposal of used oil and recycle and reclaim used oil to the greatest extent possible in order to recover valuable natural resources and to avoid damage to the environment and threats to public health.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 317, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)