How to Dispose of Used Motor Oil
There’s nothing like popping the hood and changing your own engine oil to make a person feel self-sufficient. But what to do with the pan of grimy, used oil that’s left over? It’s tempting to dump used oil down a storm drain, onto the pavement, or into the bushes—but this is actually illegal and can bring on some heavy fines if you’re caught.
Though your pan of used oil may seem harmless, it contains heavy metals than can contaminate drinking water and kill small birds and animals. And a little oil goes a long way: it only takes one cup of used motor oil to put an oil sheen on a one-acre pond. The good news is that motor oil can easily be recycled into lubricating oil, or re-refined into reusable motor oil, if it’s dropped off at a proper location. While it takes 42 gallons of crude oil to produce 2.5 quarts of motor oil, a single gallon of used motor oil can be re-refined into the same amount of reusable motor oil, without any going to waste.
To find the closest oil drop-off location, stop by your local auto body shop or gas station. Most businesses that work with motor oil themselves will take yours for a small fee, and if not, they’ll likely be able to suggest another nearby location. Jiffy Lube and Midas do not recycle used motor oil, but the auto shop chain Pep Boys will accept it at any location, free of charge.
If a nearby Pep Boys or auto repair shop doesn’t come to mind immediately, search your address or zipcode on the website Earth911.com, for a list of locations that will take the used oil off of your hands.
To transport used motor oil, pour it into a plastic container with a screw-on top. Never mix it with other engine fluids, like antifreeze or gasoline. If you’ve also replaced the oil filter, punch a few holes in it with a screwdriver and let the excess oil drain out before discarding it. Most locations that accept used oil will also accept the filter, once it has dripped dry.
—Merete Mueller
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