Motor Oil Disposal

Why Recycle Motor Oil?

Millions of gallons of used motor oil are being disposed of in garbage cans, sewers, and backyards. These practices can contaminate soil and have the potential to contaminate your drinking water. Just one pint of oil can cause an acre size oil slick on surface water. It’s important that you take your used motor oil to a recycling center and ask that your oil be recycled when you get your oil changed by a mechanic.

Preparing Your Motor Oil to Take to a Recycling Center

1. Drain your used motor oil into a pan large enough to hold twice the volume of the oil.
2. Carefully pour the oil into a reusable container. Make sure the container cannot be mistaken for a food or beverage container by a small child. Make sure the container has a safe lid. DO NOT use any containers larger than a few gallons since transporting the oil in large containers can be dangerous.
3. DO NOT put any other chemicals into the container (no antifreeze, gasoline, lubricants, solvents or water.)
4. Call first, and then take your oil to a facility that accepts oil for recycling

What Happens to Motor Oil that is Recycled?

Used oil that is collected can be used in specially designed space heaters, reprocessed, or re-refined. Motor oil can be refined over and over because it does not go bad, it just gets dirty.

Information provided by the American Petroleum Institute

Getting Started

Vegetable Oil

Oil from turkey fryers, etc. can be brought to any of our Household Hazardous Waste collections. Dates are published by March of each year. Appointments are required.

Gasoline

Gasoline can be brought to any of our Household Hazardous Waste collections. You can also check with your automotive service company to see if they will take your old gas.

Motor Oil & Antifreeze

Used motor oil was banned from disposal in landfills in 2004. Residents that choose to change their own oil should store the oil in a closeable, sturdy container. Some of the facilities may also accept used antifreeze and/or oil filters.

Always call before attempting to recycle your used motor oil.

Automotive Fluids Recycling Locations