Self-employed mechanics operating in urban township areas of the Western Cape and Gauteng have come under increasing scrutiny from environmental authorities and industry bodies for improper disposal of used motor oil. The practice — which often involves pouring waste oil into the ground, down drains, or burning it openly — is not only illegal under South African law, but poses a devastating and long-lasting risk to the surrounding environment.
South Africa generates an estimated 180 million litres of used oil annually. Of that, roughly 60 to 70 million litres is believed to be disposed of improperly — poured into storm drains, dumped in vacant lots, spread on dirt roads to suppress dust, or simply left in open containers where it leaches into soil and groundwater over time.
Independent mechanics — the self-employed operators working from backyards, roadsides and informal workshop areas — account for a significant portion of this problem. Unlike formal service centres and dealerships, these operators often lack the infrastructure, knowledge or financial means to arrange for proper used oil collection. The result is that vast quantities of hazardous waste end up precisely where it should never be: in the earth and water systems that communities depend on.
The National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act 59 of 2008), commonly known as NEMWA, is unambiguous on the matter. All generators of used oil — regardless of the volume or the informal nature of their business — carry a legal duty of care for that waste from the moment it is generated until it is safely disposed of at a licensed facility. This is what the industry calls "cradle-to-grave" responsibility.
Failure to comply is not treated as a minor infraction. Penalties under NEMWA can include fines of up to R10 million, criminal prosecution, and even imprisonment. Environmental authorities in both the Western Cape and Gauteng have stepped up inspections of informal workshop areas in recent years, and the message from regulators is clear: ignorance of the law is not a defence.
When asked, many independent mechanics point to the same set of challenges. They are not aware of free or low-cost collection services available to them. They believe the volumes they generate are too small to warrant formal collection. Some have inherited the practice of improper disposal from older mechanics who taught them the trade in an era before environmental legislation was enforced.
Others cite logistical barriers — they operate in areas not easily accessible to large collection vehicles, or they work from mobile setups where storing used oil safely in the interim is genuinely difficult.
"We're not here to punish small operators — we're here to make it easy for them to do the right thing. A phone call is all it takes." — Moses Mokgosi, Founder, Auto Blue Oils
Industry body the ROSE Foundation (Recycling Oil Saves the Environment) has for years run education campaigns targeting exactly this segment of the market. Their network of registered collectors — including Auto Blue Oils — is designed to make legitimate used oil collection as accessible as possible, including for small-volume generators.
Auto Blue Oils collects used oil from independent mechanics across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, often at no charge to the generator depending on volume and oil quality. The company issues a Safe Disposal Certificate and Waste Manifest with every collection — giving the mechanic documented proof that they have met their legal obligations.
If you are an independent mechanic, a workshop owner, or someone who regularly handles motor oil in any capacity, the message is straightforward: do not pour it down the drain. Do not bury it. Do not burn it. Contact a registered used oil collector and arrange collection. The service is often free, it is legal, and it protects the communities you live and work in.
For collection enquiries across Gauteng and KZN, contact Auto Blue Oils on (011) 930 0100 or email info@autoblueoils.co.za. We will arrange collection within 48 hours and issue full compliance documentation on the day.
We collect from workshops of all sizes within 48 hours across Gauteng and KZN.