However, a bigger challenge has re-surfaced, with European Directive pressure to re-classify small waste oil burners (SWOBs) as incineration plants which, under the regulations, can only be operated using processed oil.

Steve Jones blamed this on “vested interests”, saying: “Waste disposal companies want to charge garages twice – once for collection and then for delivery back to them. But on an economic and broader environmental front, this doesn’t make sense, with the extra movement of tankers and processing costs.”  

Dave Garrett, chief executive of the Garage Equipment Association, sympathised with Jones’ argument. He said: “Air pollution caused by SWOBs is minimal compared with pollution caused by collection tankers, not to mention millions of cars emitting a certain amount of used oil.

“It’s a long-running wrangle, with waste collection companies saying the UK is not complying with other EU member states. To bring them into line, SWOBs would need catalytic convertors, which would not be cost-effective.

“The Treasury may not have overlooked the point that garages are not paying tax on waste oil used for heating. Our advice to members contemplating the purchase of a burner is to weigh up the pros of a relatively short pay-back period and the cons of an eventual change in the regulations.”

The Retail Motor Industry Federation has also objected to any change, stating: “Garages rely on SWOBs as a consistent way of heating their premises as well as disposing of waste oil. If SWOBs were banned, garages could see a rise in their utility bills by an average of £5,000.”