A STOURPORT firm which specialises in the recycling of hazardous waste lubricating oils, has been shortlisted for a national award for the second time this year.

Slicker Recycling, which specialises in the collection and recycling of lubricating oils previously used in motor vehicles and machinery, is a finalist in the Circular Economy category in the 2021 National Recycling Awards.

The company plays a key role in the UK lubricating oil industry by treating used oils - contributing to worldwide efforts in achieving a sustainable circular economy model.

The company, which employs 180 people, last July launched a £70 million base oil re-refinery in Denmark as part of a joint venture with its German partner, Avista AG.

Through the Danish facility, used lubricating oils are processed into a high-quality, non-hazardous base oil product which can then be used to manufacture lubricating oils, which in turn can be recycled further.

In its first year, the state-of-the-art re-refinery regenerated over 110 million litres of lubricant base oils for the international market – with Slicker supplying 75 million litres from the UK, saving around 40,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Mark Olpin, Slicker Recycling’s managing director said: “To be shortlisted for a second national award this year is superb news for everyone here at Slicker.

“First and foremost, it again recognises the successes we have had and the significant work and investment that has gone into making the project in Denmark a reality.

“Our ambition is to be a UK leader in sustainable waste management and we see our operation providing meaningful environmental benefits to the international marketplace for many years to come – a topic which is especially important at present with the UN Climate Change Conference starting next month in Glasgow.

“The re-refinery is a big part of that drive, and it is rightly creating attention across the world for the results it is achieving."