Italy recycles 98 percent of used mineral oils to support circular economy

The CONOU consortium showcased its mineral oil recycling system at the Ecomondo 2026 trade fair in Rimini, Italy, from 3 to 6 November.

The organization presented how it manages the collection and regeneration of hazardous waste to turn it into a valuable resource for the production of new lubricants. The CONOU coordinates a supply chain that includes 57 collection companies and three regeneration plants.

This system ensures that used mineral oil from industrial sites and workshops is intercepted and processed into regenerated base oil. This process reduces the need for fossil fuels and prevents pollution, as a small amount of used oil can contaminate a large body of water. The consortium reported that Italy collected approximately 194,500 tonnes of used mineral oils in 2025.

The organization sent over 98 percent of that waste to regeneration, which is significantly higher than the European average of 61 percent. To reach younger audiences, the consortium used animated characters named Olly and ReGen to explain the industrial process. Students visited the exhibition in the South Pavilion on 6 November to watch a short film and speak with regional managers about how waste transforms into a new resource.