The oil recovery system is used to remove oil from water. The system includes rollers rotatably supported on a frame, one of the rollers having drive sprockets. A belt extends between the first and second rollers and a roller press squeezes the belt to thereby remove oil from the belt. The belt has a first layer of oleophilic material, a second layer of oleophilic material and a third central reinforcing scrim layer between the first and second layer. Chains extend along the side edges of the belt, and are driven by the sprockets. The chains are connected to the side edges by a plurality of flanges that are integral the chains, reinforcing cords extending along the side edges, reinforcing strips wrapped around the reinforcing cords and extending along the side edges, and a plurality of pins that extend through the flanges, the strip and the three layers.