June 10, 1999
Environmental Media Association Press Release
Original Link: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/archive/IWMBPR/1999/june/EMArelease.htm
Film, Television and Sports Celebrities Reach Out to “Do-It-Yourself” Oil Changers
Statewide PSA Campaign Tells Them to “Finish the Job” and Recycle It With One Phone Call
When they talk, people listen. And, currently, they are talking about used oil recycling and talking to “do-it-yourselfers” that change their own motor oil and hold the key to protecting our ocean, rivers, lakes and streams.
A new public service announcement (PSA) campaign launched today by the State of California’s primary recycling agency – the Integrated Waste Management Board (Waste Board) – tells “do-it-yourselfers” how a simple phone call will put them in touch with hundreds of locations to properly recycle used motor oil.
Last year, 140 million gallons of motor oil were sold in California. Approximately 40 percent, or 56 million gallons, leaked from engines or was burned off. Yet, of the remaining 84 gallons, just 64 million were recycled, leaving approximately 20 million gallons winding up improperly disposed into waterways, onto the ground, or into the garbage.
“Too often, our beaches, lakes, streams, and other waterways are being polluted by individuals who aren’t recycling their motor oil,” said Dan Eaton, Chairman of the Waste Board. “We appreciate the cooperation of the superstar and celebrity communities in helping us educate Californians on how they can protect our waterways by recycling their used motor oil.”
Oil poured down drains or onto the ground can work its way into ground or surface waters and cause serious pollution. In fact, just one gallon of used oil can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water. Federal reports indicate that used motor oil accounts for more than 40 percent of the total oil pollution of our nation’s harbors and waterways.
In television PSAs featuring Andretti, Clapp and Seagal, radio PSAs featuring Cienfuegos, Perry and Weiss, and in supporting print ads, the celebrities talk directly to Californians who change their own oil, and provide them with a new tool for the job – the telephone. This first-of-its-kind campaign gives these “do-it-yourselfers” a simple and convenient way to do the right thing. By calling the California Environmental Hotline at 1-800-CLEANUP, or logging on to www.1800cleanup.org and punching in their zip code, they can quickly find the nearest location to recycle used motor oil.
The campaign is funded by the Waste Board as part of a $23 million annual program financed through a 4-cent-per-quart surcharge on each quart of motor oil sold in California. Consumers can get the 4 cents back when they take their used oil to one of the state’s 2,700 certified used oil collection centers. Waste Board research shows that caring for their cars properly is the biggest motivating factor for individuals who change their own oil. Making sure that recycling is a convenient option is critical to addressing problems of improper disposal.
Eaton joined stars Ed Begley, Jr., radio’s “Motor Man” Leon Kaplan, Sunset Beach’s Jason George and Sherri Saum, MTV’s Kara McNamara, Ted Raimi from Xena, Warrior Princess, and The Wonder Year’s Danika McKellar, in today’s launch of the PSA campaign at the UCLA Ocean Discovery Center on the Santa Monica Pier. Also taking part were Steve Fleischli, executive director of Santa Monica Baykeeper and Sev Williams, director of Earth’s 911 Promotions Cooperative, the organization that operates the California Environmental Hotline.
A key component to this campaign is the service of Earth’s 911. Through this innovative public/private partnership, the State of California can now provide every Californian with information on how to protect their local environment. No taxpayer funds support the operation of this important service. Through the partnership between the California Environmental Protection Agency and Earth’s 911, 100 percent of the cost of the phone and Internet network is funded by several private sector partners including: Bank of America, Circle K, Ford, Home Depot, Microsoft and Sprint.
The PSAs are being distributed to media outlets and local recycling coordinators across California beginning June 21, with both English and Spanish PSAs available.