About
Envirocare / ECL - Business Overview
Envirocare / ECL is a limited company dedicated to the safe collection, processing, and disposal of used motor oils (hydrocarbons) in The Bahamas. Operating on Abundant Life Road we manage three large oil storage tanks (each holding 110,000 gallons) and an oil pumphouse. To ensure safety, Envirocare / ECL has constructed a secondary containment system around these tanks.
Established in 1994 by DeCosta Bethel, a mechanical engineer licensed and registered in The Bahamas
Environmental Services
Envirocare / ECL serves a vital role in the service industry by providing certified safe collection and disposal of used motor oils. Approved by the Department of Environmental Health Services within the Ministry of the Environment, Envirocare / ECL is authorized to operate its collection, processing, and disposal facility and to issue certificates of safe disposal to customers. This service is critical for environmental protection in The Bahamas, offering a responsible alternative to the harmful dumping of used oils which can contaminate land, sea, and groundwater resources. Used oils are both carcinogenic and mutagenic, posing significant public health risks-especially on New Providence, home to 70% of the country’s population and 80% of its vehicles. Many residents rely on private water wells, making the safe disposal of oil essential for public health
Manufacturing and Industry Support
ECL is also a manufacturer, producing fuel for industries that require heat generation. For over twenty years, ECL has supplied fuel to the government’s hot mix plant on Fire Trail Road, which produces asphalt for road paving. Private companies also use ECL’s fuel for paving government and private roads and runways. By producing these fuels locally, ECL helps reduce fuel imports, easing pressure on The Bahamas’ foreign reserves.
Export Operations
Beyond local operations, ECL exports processed oils to international markets, including India and the U.S.A. These exports bring valuable foreign currency into The Bahamas, strengthening the nation’s economy.
History and Leadership
Envirocare / ECL was founded more than two decades ago by DeCosta Bethel, who recognized the environmental and public health dangers of improperly discarded used oils while managing the Clifton Pier Power Station. His initiative led to a public collection program, which continued until changes in power generation technology ended the practice. Seeing the ongoing need, Mr. Bethel established Envirocare / ECL as a private entity, making it the only company currently offering safe used oil collection and disposal on New Providence.
Impact
Envirocare / ECL services are a key component of environmental stewardship in The Bahamas, helping protect public health, support local industry, and contribute to the national economy through valuable export earnings.
01
Established in 1994 by DeCosta Bethel.
- Mechanical engineer, licensed and registered in The Bahamas.
- Environmental advocate at heart
03
Promoted to Station Manager within 2 years.
- Managed 150 staff across Operations, Maintenance (Mechanical & Electrical), Instrumentation, and Chemical Lab.
- Oversaw oil-fired boilers, steam turbines, and large slow speed two-stroke diesel engines.
05
Occasional waste oil spills into the sea drew public criticism.
- The underwater scenes for ALL of the James Bond movies were shot just off Clifton.
- I felt responsible which raised my personal and professional concern of environmental matters.
- Sparked commitment to proper used oil management
02
Began as Mechanical Maintenance Manager at Clifton Pier Power Station (Bahamas Electricity Corporation / BPL).
04
Station used heavy residual fuel oil requiring centrifuging before use.
06
Convinced BEC to begin public used oil collection.
- Texaco installed collection bins at service stations
- public used notes oils were disposal by combustun in the oil fined boilers
07
Steam station later retired, leaving no disposal solution.
- Led to the formation of ECL (Engineers & Consultants Ltd)
About C.N. DeCosta Bethel, CEO
C.N. DeCosta Bethel is a licensed mechanical and industrial engineer and the founder and CEO of Envirocare / ECL, a leading company in used motor oil recovery, processing, and export in The Bahamas. His work is driven by a deep commitment to protecting the environment and advancing practical solutions.
Bethel’s career began in 1980 at Clifton Pier Power Station, the main facility for what is now Bahamas Power & Light (BPL). As Mechanical Maintenance Manager, he was responsible for maintaining heavy fuel equipment and witnessed firsthand the harmful effects of oil spills into the sea. This experience sparked his passion for environmental stewardship, especially given the threat these spills posed to the pristine Bahamian waters famously featured in the James Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only.’
Under his leadership at BPL, Bethel launched an island-wide initiative to recover used motor oil. This oil was safely blended with residual fuel for power generation, offering a better alternative to dumping it into the environment. When the steam generation facility closed in the mid-1990s, Bethel founded ECL to continue this vital work independently.
Since then, ECL has partnered with national utilities across the Family Islands to collect, process, and export used motor and transformer oils. The company has managed some of the largest environmental cleanup projects in Bahamian history, including safely removing over a thousand 55-gallon drums and more than a hundred transformers’ worth of oil from the Abaco Island Power Station, as well as exporting 3.5 million gallons of residual oil and oily water from Clifton Pier. These efforts involved innovative storage and transfer solutions developed by Bethel and his team.
Today, Bethel leads a skilled staff equipped with advanced laboratory facilities and extensive storage and transport capacity. ECL operates with full approval from the Department of Environmental Health Services and complies strictly with water safety standards. Under his guidance, the company remains a benchmark for responsible oil management and environmental risk reduction in The Bahamas.
Beyond his leadership role, Bethel is dedicated to advancing sustainable practices that protect the natural beauty and resources of the islands for future generations.
Our Team
Stephen Isaacs
Consultant Laboratory/Field Analyst
Philip Poitier
Operational Associate
Edgar Roberts
Processing & Facility Associate
Christopher Brice
Operational Associate
Michael Turnquest
Operational Assistant
Dario Albury
Operational Assistant
Our Team
STEPHEN ISAACS
LABORATORY/FIELD ANALYST.
Mr. Isaacs, a licensed biological engineer oversees field pre-assessments and laboratory assays. His wide experience covers environmental service projects including water and ecological systems.
Philip Poitier
Operational Associate.
A team member for the past twenty-five years.
Edgar Roberts:
Processing & Facility Associate.
A team member for the past twenty years
Christopher Brice:
Operational Associate.
A team member for the past fifteen years.
Michael Turnquest.
Operational Assistant.
A team member for the past 5 years
Dario Albury
Operational Assistant.
A team member for the past two years
01
Established in 1994 by DeCosta Bethel.
- Mechanical engineer, licensed and registered in The Bahamas.
- Environmental advocate at heart
02
Began as Mechanical Maintenance Manager at Clifton Pier Power Station (Bahamas Electricity Corporation / BPL).
03
Promoted to Station Manager within 2 years.
- Managed 150 staff across Operations, Maintenance (Mechanical & Electrical), Instrumentation, and Chemical Lab.
- Oversaw oil-fired boilers, steam turbines, and large slow speed two-stroke diesel engines.
04
Station used heavy residual fuel oil requiring centrifuging before use.
05
Occasional waste oil spills into the sea drew public criticism.
- The underwater scenes for ALL of the James Bond movies were shot just off Clifton.
- I felt responsible which raised my personal and professional concern of environmental matters.
- Sparked commitment to proper used oil management
06
Convinced BEC to begin public used oil collection.
- Texaco installed collection bins at service stations
- public used notes oils were disposal by combustun in the oil fined boilers
07
Steam station later retired, leaving no disposal solution.
- Led to the formation of ECL (Engineers & Consultants Ltd)
How We Started.
1 - Established in 1994 by DeCosta Bethel.
- Mechanical engineer, licensed and registered in The Bahamas.
- Environmental advocate at heart
2 -Began as Mechanical Maintenance Manager at Clifton Pier Power Station (Bahamas Electricity Corporation / BPL).
3 - Promoted to Station Manager within 2 years.
- Managed 150 staff across Operations, Maintenance (Mechanical & Electrical), Instrumentation, and Chemical Lab.
- Oversaw oil-fired boilers, steam turbines, and large slow speed two-stroke diesel engines.
4 - Station used heavy residual fuel oil requiring centrifuging before use.
5 - Occasional waste oil spills into the sea drew public criticism.
- The underwater scenes for ALL of the James Bond movies are shot just off Clifton.
- I felt responsible which raised my personal and professional concern of environmental matters.
- Sparked commitment to proper waste oil management
6 -Convinced BEC to begin public used oil collection.
- Texaco installed collection bins at service stations
7 - Steam station later retired, leaving no disposal solution.
- Led to the formation of ECL (Engineers & Consultants Ltd)
