3 Auto Shops OKd for Oil Recycling

Three Ventura County auto shops have been certified by the California Integrated Waste Management Board to collect and recycle used oil from the public, bringing to 10 the number of state-certified facilities in the county.

Poole Oil Co. and Ventura Oil Co., both in Oxnard, were approved last week. Ojai Valley Imports in Ojai was approved last month, state officials said.

Consumers who bring their used motor oil to certified businesses will be paid four cents per quart under the state’s new Used Oil Recycling Program, which went into effect last year.

Under the program, the state certifies private businesses to become oil collection centers, provided they accept oil during normal business hours and agree to pay four cents per quart. The board then reimburses the centers for the payment. Funds for the program are generated from an assessment on oil sold in California.

The program was created as a way to stop people from illegally disposing of used oil into the environment, state officials said.

There are now 175 certified centers in California.

Certified collection centers in Ventura County are:

* Adamson’s Automotive Repair, 814 S. Bryant St., Ojai.

* Easy Oil, 77 Park Lane, Unit F, Moorpark.

* Gabriels Independent Auto Repair, 65 W. Baldwin Road, Ojai.

* Jiffy Lube, 2905 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; 274 Arneill Road, Camarillo, and 1098 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura.

* Ojai Valley Imports, 996 E. Ojai Ave, Ojai.

* Pep Boys, 2099 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

* Poole Oil Co., 3885 Vineyard Ave., Oxnard.

* Ventura Oil Co., 3815 Vineyard Ave., Oxnard.