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Processed fuel oil from waste lubricating oil

Waste lubricating oils (WLOs) can be used to create processed fuel oil (PFO), which can be used instead of clean fuel oil to fire burners in:

  • power stations
  • boilers
  • cement and lime kilns
  • roadstone coating plants.

You can use the Quality Protocol to recover waste lubricating oil in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The PFO Quality Protocol sets a standard for processed fuel oil made from WLO.  If this standard is met, PFO will normally be regarded as fully recovered and waste management controls will no longer apply. Most importantly, the burning of the PFO will not be subject to the requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC).

What are the benefits of the processed fuel oil quality protocol?

Complying with this quality protocol will increases sales for waste oil recyclers by re-distributing sales towards higher end markets; helping manufacturers avoid regulatory costs; and reducing CO2 equivalent emissions. 

The PFO quality protocol will:

  • an average net benefit of £77 million over the next ten years
  • a reduction in carbon emissions
  • reduction in amount of virgin fuel and lubricants used
  • a reduction in exports.

The current status of the processed fuel oil quality protocol?

The Quality Protocol was published in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in February 2011.  

You can download the quality protocol for the production and use of processed fuel oil from waste lubricating oils.

Use this link to download the quality protocol for processed fuel oil:

You can also download:

Find out how we regulate processed fuel oil:

To find out how Northern Ireland regulates the production and use of processed fuel oil please follow this link:

Get involved

It may be in your interests to comply with the new quality protocol if you produce or recycle waste lubricating oil and/ or processed fuel oil.

To find out which recyclers can use your waste check the NetRegs Waste Directory.

More information

If you would like further help, please email Waste Protocols.