Oil Filter Recycler Gears Up

Vortex Recycling, New Castle, Pa., is seeking additional materials to run through its “Mega Crusher,” which has the ability to recycle up to 1,500 55-gallon drums of recyclable used oil filters per day.

According to Vortex marketing and sales manager John Greer, the process can generate 120 tons of steel scrap from the filters, as well as recover 10,000 gallons of recyclable fuel oil per day. The scrap steel grade that is produced “does not drip oil,” says Greer.

“We are quickly becoming the choice of a number of major national corporations and other companies who want their used oil filter problems taken care of now, without worrying about any liabilities later on,” says operations manager Matt Eggleston.

The company began leasing space in New Castle in January of this year, and has been going through the equipment start-up phase for the Mega Crusher this summer. The crusher, which exerts 400,000 pounds of crushing force, is part of a 160,000-pound self-contained system.

Just a short time ago, most used oil filters were disposed of in landfills, notes Vortex owner Don Kleine. Many states have now banned the landfilling of used oil filters, and all states require that the filters, at a minimum, be drained of all free-flowing oil before they are disposed of.

“Our patented Mega Crusher recycling process was developed in 1995 in San Diego, and incorporates the latest advancements in used oil filter compaction,” Kleine remarks. “Using the most sophisticated technology in the industry, Vortex Recycling creates a ‘cradle to grave’ process that produces raw materials for recycling, with no waste streams ending up in landfills.”