Question 1

Where do you operate?

Accepted Answer

We operate across the upper North Island. Northland from Auckland north to Coopers Beach and Kerikeri, all Auckland regions, the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and south to Taupo.

Question 2

Is used oil classified as a hazardous substance?

Accepted Answer

Used oil is classified as a hazardous waste under New Zealand environmental law. This means you have legal obligations around its storage and disposal. Using a responsible collector like AGB Solutions means you are meeting those obligations correctly.

Question 3

How does the collection process work?

Accepted Answer

You contact us, we confirm the volume and location, and we schedule a time that suits your operation. On the day, our driver arrives with a pump truck, transfers the oil from your container or tank directly into our vehicle, and gives you documentation confirming the volume collected and how it will be processed. The whole visit is typically quick and straightforward.

Question 4

Is the collection really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for volumes of 400 litres or more. If you have at least 400 litres of used oil ready for collection, we collect it at no charge. For smaller volumes, a standard collection fee applies. Call us and we will tell you what applies to your situation.

Question 5

Do you service rural properties?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We collect from farms and rural properties, not just urban commercial premises. If you generate used oil from farm machinery, irrigation equipment, or other agricultural operations, we can collect it.

Question 6

What regulations apply to used oil disposal?

Accepted Answer

Used oil handling, storage, and disposal sit under the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017, with HSNOCOP63 the operative New Zealand code of practice for waste oil.

Question 7

What types of oil do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We collect most types of used mineral oil: engine oil, hydraulic oil, gear oil, and transmission fluid. We do not accept oil mixed with coolant, water, or solvents, as this contaminates the oil and affects its value as a recyclable fuel. If you are not sure, give us a call.

Question 8

Why is it free for larger volumes?

Accepted Answer

The economics work out because recovered oil has value as a fuel source for glasshouse heating. Larger volumes make the collection worth the trip. Smaller volumes cost more to handle relative to the value we recover, so we charge a fee to cover our costs.

Question 9

I am on the edge of your service area. Can you still collect?

Accepted Answer

Give us a call and we will check. We are flexible and will tell you honestly whether we can make it to your site and at what frequency.

Question 10

Do I get documentation for my compliance records?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We provide documentation for every collection confirming the volume collected and how it was disposed of. This is useful for council audits, environmental reporting, and any other compliance requirements your business has.

Question 11

How do I store the oil before you collect it?

Accepted Answer

Keep used oil in a sealed container or tank, away from rainwater and other liquids. A dedicated oil drum or IBC (intermediate bulk container) works well. Do not mix oil with coolant, water, antifreeze, or any other liquid. Keep a lid on it and store it in a contained area in case of spills.

Question 12

What are your fees for smaller volumes?

Accepted Answer

Fees for volumes under 400 litres depend on the volume and your location. Call us on 027 289 8174 and we will give you a straight answer.

Question 13

How often do you run to regional areas like Bay of Plenty or Northland?

Accepted Answer

We run to regional areas on a regular schedule, though not necessarily every week. The frequency depends on demand in the area. For planned collections, contact us and we will work out the best timing.

Question 14

Can I pour used oil down the drain?

Accepted Answer

No. Discharging oil to the wastewater system or stormwater drains is illegal and can result in significant fines from the council. Even small amounts of oil can cause serious problems in waterways. This is exactly why we exist.

Question 15

How quickly can you collect?

Accepted Answer

We aim to schedule collections within a few business days, depending on your location and the volume involved. For urgent situations, call us directly on 027 289 8174 and we will do our best.

Question 16

Do you charge for vacuum truck work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Interceptor cleaning, sludge disposal, and other vacuum truck services are charged based on the job. Call us to discuss your requirements and we will give you a quote.

Question 17

Can you provide volume reports for our compliance records?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every collection comes with documentation showing the date, volume collected, and how the oil was disposed of. If you need something more detailed. A summary of all collections over a period, a specific format, or named recipients for annual environmental reporting or council audits, let us know when you book and we will work out what we can provide.

Question 18

Do you do regular scheduled collections?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you generate oil regularly, we can set up a scheduled collection run to suit your operation. This works well for workshops and fleets that accumulate oil on a predictable cycle. Call us to discuss a schedule.

Question 19

What affects the cost of a collection?

Accepted Answer

The main factors are volume, your location relative to our routes, and how often we need to collect. Larger volumes that meet the free threshold cost you nothing. Smaller volumes or sites that are further off our regular routes may attract a fee. If your site generates oil regularly, setting up a scheduled run often brings the cost down.

Question 20

What format does your invoice come in?

Accepted Answer

We issue invoices by email as a PDF. The invoice shows the date of collection, volume collected, and any charges. If you need a specific format for your accounts system, let us know when you book and we will do our best to accommodate it.

Question 21

How do I know my waste oil is being disposed of correctly and not dumped?

Accepted Answer

Every collection comes with a docket showing the volume, the date, and the destination. The oil we collect goes to a known destination. Horticultural glasshouses in the region. Not to an anonymous facility. If you want to know more before you book, call us and we will tell you exactly where your oil goes.

Question 22

Do you provide containers or tanks?

Accepted Answer

Containers and tanks can be arranged subject to volumes. Most of our customers store used oil in their own drums, IBCs, or bulk tanks that our truck pumps directly from. If your site generates enough volume to justify it, give us a call on 027 289 8174 and we will work through what setup makes sense.

Question 23

Can I recycle the plastic oil bottles and containers from my workshop?

Accepted Answer

We do not collect plastic oil containers as part of our service. Empty HDPE containers. 1 litre, 4 litre, 20 litre oil bottles. Can be accepted at most council resource recovery centres if rinsed out. Some specialist recyclers also accept them. Check your local council website for the nearest facility. The main thing is not to put them in general rubbish with residual oil still inside.

Question 24

What about oil-soaked rags and absorbents. Can you take those?

Accepted Answer

We do not collect oily rags, absorbent pads, or spill kit materials. These are a separate waste stream from liquid oil and need to go to a licensed hazardous waste contractor. Your local council or the Business Waste website will have options in your area.

Question 25

Can you collect waste oil from marine and boatyard operations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We collect used mineral oil from marine workshops, boatyards, marinas, and slipways across the upper North Island, including Auckland, the Hauraki Gulf catchment, and Northland as far north as Coopers Beach. Engine oil, hydraulic oil, and gearbox oil from marine operations are all accepted.

Marine sites often sit under strict regional council stormwater rules, so a clean paper trail matters. Every collection comes with a docket showing volume and destination. We do not accept oil mixed with bilge water, fuel, or solvents. Keep it separated. Call us on 027 289 8174 to set up a one-off or scheduled run.

Question 26

What happens to waste oil after AGB collects it?

Accepted Answer

Collected oil is transported to our Tuakau facility where it undergoes treatment to remove contaminants such as water, coolant, fuel and particulates. The light fuel oil that is produced is supplied to horticultural glasshouses in the region where it is burned as fuel to heat the growing environment. Every litre stays out of New Zealand waterways.

Question 27

Is used cooking oil collection free in NZ?

Accepted Answer

AGB Solutions does not collect used cooking oil. We collect used mineral oil. Engine, hydraulic, gear, and transmission oils. From workshops, fleets, and factories. For mineral oil volumes of 400 litres or more, collection is free. Smaller volumes attract a standard fee.

Used cooking oil from commercial kitchens is a separate waste stream handled by dedicated UCO collectors in New Zealand, who often collect free of charge because the oil is processed into biodiesel. If you are unsure which stream your oil belongs to, call us on 027 289 8174 and we will point you in the right direction.

Question 28

Does AGB service rural Northland and the Far North?

Accepted Answer

We run regular routes through Northland as far north as Coopers Beach and Kerikeri. Further into the Far North, such as Kaitaia, Mangonui, Kaikohe, or Cape Reinga, we can usually collect but it is not a scheduled weekly run. Frequency depends on demand in the area.

If you are a farm, workshop, transport operator, or forestry contractor sitting north of Kerikeri with a tank of used oil, give us a call on 027 289 8174. We will tell you honestly when we can next be in your area and whether it makes sense to batch with nearby sites. Rural and remote collections are part of what we do.

Question 29

Do I need a hazardous waste manifest for used oil in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

New Zealand does not operate a single national hazardous waste manifest system for used oil, but generators must keep records of how hazardous substances are stored, transferred, and disposed of under the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 and HSNOCOP63. Using a responsible collector covers the transfer and disposal side of that obligation.

We issue a docket for every collection showing the date, volume, and destination. That document is what most councils, WorkSafe NZ inspectors, and auditors want to see. If your industry or resource consent requires a specific manifest format, tell us when you book and we will work out what we can provide.

Question 30

How do I dispose of oil filters and oily rags legally in NZ?

Accepted Answer

Used oil filters and oily rags are hazardous waste under the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 and cannot go in general rubbish or recycling. They must go to a licensed hazardous waste contractor or a council transfer station that accepts them.

AGB Solutions collects liquid oil only. We do not take filters, absorbent pads, or spill kit material. Drain filters upside down for at least 24 hours over a collection tray before disposal; the drained oil can then go into your AGB collection drum. For filters and rags themselves, your local council resource recovery centre or a specialist contractor is the right route. WorkSafe NZ also expects these materials to be stored in sealed, labelled containers on site.

Question 31

Do I earn carbon credits by recycling my waste oil?

Accepted Answer

No. Under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), recycling waste oil does not generate NZUs, which are New Zealand's official carbon unit. Only activities that physically remove carbon from the atmosphere, primarily forestry, earn NZUs. As a business using a waste oil collection service, you are classified as an end user and are not a regulated ETS participant. The EPA and Ministry for the Environment have confirmed this.

Question 32

A waste oil company told me I can earn carbon credits. Is that true?

Accepted Answer

No. That is not how the NZ ETS works. Earning NZUs requires measurable carbon removal from the atmosphere, and waste oil recycling does not qualify. If a company has told you that you will earn NZUs by using their service, ask them for their NZ ETS registration number and the approved methodology. We are not aware of any pathway that allows a waste oil collection customer to earn NZUs. If you want to talk it through, give us a call.

Questions, answered.

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