Oil Collection Facilities in Canterbury

A Canterbury wide network of Council Used Oil collection facilities have been set up. Used Oil from domestic uses can be dropped off at these sites, usually for free. This service is not available to commercial operators.

To find out where the nearest Council Used Oil collection facility is to you, click on your district on the map below. If there is not a Council facility in your area then ask your local garage or service station if they will accept your Used Oil. There are around 320 garages and service stations in Canterbury that accept Used Oil off either the general public or their customers.

Used Oil Collection Facilities in the Canterbury Region

Oil Collection Locations in Canterbury

Click on your district above to find your nearest drop off point.

Council contacts for Used Oil facilities and information

Tammara Page
Chris Hopman
Customer Services
Customer Services
Greg Bennett
Ian Challenger
John McGartland
Dave Hock
Blue Forsyth
Kitty Waghorn
Brian Purcell
Ashburton District Council
Banks Peninsula District Council
Christchurch City Council
Environment Canterbury
Hurunui District Council
Kaikoura District Council
Mackenzie District Council
Selwyn District Council
Timaru District Council
Waimakariri District Council
Waimate District Council Ph: (03) 308-5139
Ph: (03) 328-8065
Ph: (03) 371-1999
Ph: (03) 365-3828
Ph: (03) 314-8816
Ph: (03) 319-5026
Ph: (03) 435-0630
Ph: (03) 324-8080
Ph: (03) 684-8199
Ph: (03) 313-6136
Ph: (03) 689-8079

Note:

All services are free for domestic users (20 litres maximum per drop-off) except in Mackenzie and Kaikoura districts.,/p>

Where does the oil go?

The majority of used oil collected by Councils goes to Holcim (previously named Milburn Cement) in Westport for use as a coal substitute in their cement kiln. In 2002 13.5 million litres of used oil was used by Holcim. Temperatures reached in the kiln destroy 99.99% of contaminants in the used oil and the residue remaining is bound into their product i.e. it ends up locked in concrete. Holcim has a Resource Consent for this activity, but if oil is burnt at lower temperatures many of these contaminants are either released into the air or concentrated in the ash produced. Under Environment Canterbury's proposed Clean Air Plan the burning of used oil in low temperature heaters will be illegal.

The Benefits of proper disposal include:

Cleaner water-ways, harbours and beaches
Safe Drinking water
Healthier soils
Cleaner Air