Tampa's Port Welcomes Unique Oil Recycling Facility

The Tampa Port Authority will welcome NexLube, an oil recycling company, to lease property and build a processing plant on approximately 12 acres at Pendola Point. The recycling facility will be the first of its kind in Florida and is expected to process up to 24 million gallons of used oil per year.

NexLube will recycle used oil for use as lubricants, diesel and asphalt. Oil from automobile oil changes can be reprocessed for use as motor oil that is equal or superior to retail motor oil.

Because of the Port of Tampa's convenient location on southern Tampa's bay waterfront, the used oil can be received by truck, rail or ship through its easy access to major interstates and railway systems. According to Benny Susi, principal at Golder Associates, a public drop-off is under consideration. "We will consider having a drop-off place where the general public can also bring in their oil to be recycled so that improper disposal is avoided.," he says.

Green industries are growing at ports across the United States, and fit in well at the Port of Tampa, says Richard Wainio, port director and chief executive. The port is the shipping gateway for about 40 percent of all the petroleum-related products that serve the fuel needs of most of central Florida, including the jet fuel supply for both Tampa and Orlando's international airports.

"We are happy to welcome NexLube Tampa, LLC to the Port of Tampa and are eager to see their business succeed. As a major petroleum port, Tampa is a logical center for significant oil recycling," Wainio says.

Construction is estimated to cost about $75 million, and operations will begin in 2012.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Benny Susi, Golder & Associates Engineering Consultants