Department of Defense Recycles

The Closed-Loop Recycling Amendment fosters the purchase and refining of used motor oil by the Department of Defense (DOD) -- at 340,000 barrels per day, by far the largest single consumer of oil in the world. Supported by the Alliance to Save Energy and Alliance Honorary Vice-Chair Representative Steve Israel (D-NY), co-chair of the Defense Energy Working Group, the amendment was passed by the House in May and remains under consideration by the Senate.

Specifically, the amendment requires DOD to evaluate the feasibility of closed-loop recycling of used oil as a way to reduce total indirect energy usage. Should DOD find that the benefits of this program outweigh its costs, the Secretary of Defense must find ways to implement policies requiring closed-loop recycling wherever possible. Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan issued a letter to members of the Senate Finance Committee urging them to consider a production tax credit for the re-refining of used motor oil, as well as a tax provision supporting the building of oil refineries.

The figures are promising: re-refining used lubricating oil takes 50-85 percent less energy than refining crude oil, producing fewer GHGs, reducing oil dependency, and potentially turning the DOD into the world’s most powerful recycler.