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Jun 13, 2023

How to Dispose of Motor Oil

The slick rundown on everything you need to dispose of motor oil. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › I once had an oil pan

The slick rundown on everything you need to dispose of motor oil.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

I once had an oil pan with an “Exxon Valdez” sticker. Partly a joke, it reminded me to be careful when changing motor oil. Put the pan in the wrong place, drop the oil filter, or get distracted, and before you know it, you have an oil slick on your driveway.

Motor oil covers everything in a thin, slippery coat. It's an ideal lubricant for your engine but horrible for the environment. The chemical compounds in motor oil poison plants, wildlife, and contaminate soil and groundwater. It takes years for the chemicals to break down naturally, which is why it’s illegal to dispose of motor oil anywhere except approved locations.

At the risk of sounding risque, The Drive’s crack team knows how to handle fluids and lubricants. We’ve shown you how to dispose of old gas and get rid of antifreeze, and now we’ll show you how to dispose of motor oil.

Estimated Time Needed: Drive time to an approved dropoff location

Skill Level: Beginner

Vehicle System: Engine

Besides the environmental benefits, motor oil can be reused. It is re-refined, processed into fuel, or recycled to make other petroleum-based products. Everything from lubricants, like gear oil and hydraulic fluids, to oil-based paints and stains are manufactured using recycled oil.

Recycling motor oil is less expensive than crude oil refinement. The used oil is not worn out, just dirty. According to the EPA:

Working with motor oil can be dangerous and messy, so here’s exactly what you’ll need to keep oil out of your eyes, off your hands, and in control.

If you change your own oil, you already have everything you need to recycle motor oil. The steps are the same, but there are several tools that help make the recycling job easier.

Organizing your tools and gear so everything is easily reachable will save precious minutes waiting for your handy-dandy child or four-legged helper to bring you the sandpaper or blowtorch. (You won't need a blowtorch for this job. Please don’t have your kid hand you a blowtorch—Ed.)

Recycling motor oil is easy and convenient. There are plenty of places that will take your old oil, as well as empty oil bottles and used oil filters. But first, there are a couple of steps to prepare everything for disposal.

The easiest way to recycle oil is to take it back to the store where you bought it. Almost every auto parts store recycles motor oil, oil filters, and oil bottles.

Municipal recycling facilities offer disposal for hazardous waste, like paint, household chemicals, and motor oil. Check your local county or municipal website to learn what materials they accept, locations, and hours of operation.

Auto repair garages and oil change facilities will accept your used oil. They may charge a small disposal fee, but it’s a lot cheaper than paying a fine for illegal dumping.

Check online if you can’t find a place near you that accepts used motor oil. You can search for “oil recycling near me” or visit Earth911.com to get a list of nearby locations.

If you’re tempted to pour your old oil down the drain, empty it in a backyard weed patch, dump it near a stream or river, or flush it down the toilet, don’t — seriously, just don’t.

Motor oil is highly toxic. It coats anything and gets into everything. According to the EPA, the oil from one oil change:

Even if you don’t care about those things (and you should), the EPA labels oil dumping a criminal discharge of a hazardous substance. Negligent violations carry a one-year sentence and up to $25,000 in fines for the first offense. Become a repeat offender, and you’ll face up to six years and over $100,000 in fines.

Like changing the oil itself, disposing of motor oil is an easy process, but these tips will make it easier by saving time and trouble:

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers!

A: No, do not throw oil in the trash, in the garbage in, or in any other type of garbage collector. If oil is not disposed of properly, it will end up in a garbage dump, where it will contaminate the ground.

A: Don’t do this. Oil is toxic and requires special handling and disposal. Oil will kill nearby trees and vegetation if poured into the soil, as well as potentially contaminate the water.

A: Follow these steps:

This short video from Napa Auto Parts shows why it’s important to dispose of your motor oil properly and how it’s recycled.

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