News Release (C-11-99)

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For Immediate Release (C-11-99) Contact: Edd Fong (916) 324-9670 September 17, 1999

Cal/EPA Announces Oil Company Partnership  to Protect Waterways and Beaches

SACRAMENTO -  The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) today announced that Tosco, through its Union 76 and Circle K brands, has joined efforts with the State of California to protect the state’s beaches and waterways by making it easier for the public to recycle used motor oil.

Improper and illegal disposal of used motor oil on the ground, in the trash and into storm drains can have a devastating impact on both groundwater and surface water because one gallon of motor oil can foul a million gallons of drinking water. The U.S. EPA believes used motor oil is the largest single source of oil pollution in our nation’s waterways.

At a public announcement ceremony today in Miller Park, along the banks of the Sacramento River, California Secretary for Environmental Protection Winston H. Hickox announced that Union 76 will be the first oil company in the state to include the toll-free California Environmental Hotline number on more than 20 million consumer oil product containers sold in the state and 33 million containers sold nationwide.

"Union 76 and Circle K are demonstrating environmental leadership by promoting recycling and providing environmental resource information on their consumer packaging," said Secretary Hickox. "I challenge other oil companies and manufacturers to do the same thing. This is one of those little things that business can do that reaps big dividends for the environmental quality of the state and helps keep California beautiful."

The California Environmental Hotline provides callers with a variety of environmental information, including where to take used motor oil for recycling. The information is provided by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, which has certified more than 2,700 oil recycling facilities around the state. The Waste Board, the state’s primary recycling agency, oversees the state’s used oil collection program and is one of six boards and departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Waste Board Member Steven R. Jones expressed the Board’s enthusiastic support for the partnership with Union 76. He also stressed the capability of the California Environmental Hotline to greatly enhance public awareness of the need to recycle used oil and to make it easier for consumers to recycle.

"Here in California, only 20 percent of the motor oil used by the public is being properly recycled," Jones said. "That means that more than 20 million gallons of used oil is being disposed of illegally. Having the 1-800-CLEANUP number right on the bottle will make it much easier for the public to find an oil recycling facility near them. The oil can then be re-refined into top-quality oil that can be used again."

The California Environmental Hotline is a part of a nationwide program known as Earth’s 911, the nation’s free, 24-hour resource for geographically specific environmental and recycling information, both by telephone at 1-800-CLEANUP and Internet at www.1800CLEANUP.org. Consumers can obtain community-specific environmental information, including over 2,700 state-certified oil collection sites throughout California.

The California Environmental Hotline provides access to local environmental resources at no cost to the user or taxpayer. Available information includes the user’s nearest recycling center, local environmental programs, important environmental phone numbers, how to buy recycled products, and how to handle household hazardous waste. The Earth’s 911 network is expanding to include air and water quality, energy, and community specific volunteer information. Users can request additional information by using a special message section.

The service is made possible through an innovative public-private sector partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cal/EPA, the National Governor’s Association, all 50 states, and dozens of national and local public and private organizations. These organizations have enabled expansion of Earth’s 911 across the nation and into Canada.

Union 76 and Circle K’s partnership with Earth’s 911 is part of a corporate commitment to environmental stewardship. According to Robert Lavinia, president of Tosco Marketing Company, which owns Union 76 and Circle K, "Earth’s 911 gives 76 and Circle K an exceptional means to continue our strong tradition of giving back to the communities where we operate. We are pleased to make a meaningful contribution to the environment that will last for generations to come."

The company’s environmental commitment is further evidenced through its support for the elimination of the MTBE additive and reduction of sulfur in gasoline. In addition, Union 76 sells and promotes the Firebird brand of re-refined motor oil and includes recycled-content materials in their product containers.

Through their partnership, Union 76 and Circle K will significantly increase the visibility and awareness of the California Environmental Hotline, nationally known as Earth’s 911. Not only will the toll-free phone number 1-800-CLEANUP and Web address www.1800CLEANUP.org be printed on consumer lubricant container labels nationwide, but the information will also be printed on more than 100 million shopping bags and other in-store materials.

"We applaud Union 76 for taking an active role in supporting Earth’s 911 and educating consumers about the need to recycle used oil," said Rick Best, Policy Director of Californians Against Waste. "It is important that companies be good environmental stewards by not only supporting the collection of used oil, but supplying re-refined oil to consumers and using recycled content in their oil containers."

Union 76 and Circle K join a group of prominent corporations supporting this nationwide, community-specific call to action. Bank of America, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft, Sprint, and Home Depot are among the environmentally conscious, proactive companies supporting Earth’s 911.

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