Pat McCarthy, the chief executive officer of Recycle NB, said a similar plan for paint recycling has worked across the province. (CBC)

The Department of Environment is considering a plan that would regulate the recycling of used motor oil, oil filters and anti-freeze.

The proposed system would be like the one that recycles beverage containers, tires and paint.

The cost of recycling those items is included in the price of the product and that could mean an upfront recycling fee on every can of motor oil and for every oil change.

Pat McCarthy, the chief executive officer of Recycle NB, said the system for paint recycling has worked very well across the province.

“Paint was the first designated material in the province and there's 56 facilities throughout New Brunswick, and it'll be similar in our used oil, glycol filters and containers. There'll have to be access everywhere from Atholville to down near St. George,” he said.

The proposed change is still in the consultation phase.

The Department of Environment has posted draft regulations that would see those materials designated for recycling, likely for an up-front fee.

There is some skepticism over the proposal inside the environmental community.

David Coon, the executive director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, said he isn't sure collection depots will be convenient enough for people around the province.

"When your bottles and cans pile up … when you haven't been able to go to wherever the recycling depot is, it gets pretty tiresome and maybe they end up in the garbage,” Coon said.

“And our concern would be that maybe some of that oil is going to end up getting dumped."