Handling Used Oil from Your Home

If you own a car, tractor, lawnmower,boat or recreational vehicle, youprobably know that its important tochange the oil regularly to keep themotor running properly and extend itsuseful life. But did you know that itsjust as important to dispose of theused oil safely? According to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,

about 185 million gallons of used motoroil are improperly disposed byconsumers in the United States eachyear. This represents over 40% of ournations annual oil pollution.

Improper Disposal Concerns

Improper disposal of used oil cancause harmful pollution of the soil,rivers, lakes and groundwater, as wellas damage local water treatmentplants. Dumping used oil onto theground can contaminate undergroundwater supplies and is nearly impossibleto clean up. Used oil does not readilydissolve in water and is slow todegrade in the environment. Onegallon of oil can produce an oil slick upto eight acres in size. Used oil from asingle oil change can ruin one milliongallons of water (a years supply for 50people) or make four acres of soilunusable for planting for decades.

Recycling Used Oil

Although oil picks up metals and acidsas it circulates through the engineblock and crankcase of an internal

Fact Sheet

Office of Compliance Assistance & Pollution Prevention, 50 W Town St, Suite 700, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (800) 329-7518www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp

Number HC1September 2007

Fact SheetFact Sheet

combustion motor, it does not lose itslubricating properties. Thesecontaminants can be removed throughthe re-refining process. Recyclingused oil for use as an industrial fuel orre-refining it as a lubricant conservesnatural resources, saves energy, and isbeneficial to the environment. It takes42 gallons of crude oil to produce 2.5quarts of lubricating oil, while onegallon of used oil will produce thesame 2.5 quarts.

Using Good MaintenancePractices

If you do your own vehicle or equipmentmaintenance, its important to thinkabout where and how you do this.Even small drips and spills can add upto a problem. Some tips for goodvehicle maintenance:

Avoid doing maintenance in anarea thats close to a surface wateror near a water well, if you haveone.

Do maintenance in a locationwhere spills and drips from yourvehicles and equipment can becontained.

If possible, use drip pans to collectoil while you are doingmaintenance work.

Soak up small drips and spills withsawdust or kitty litter. Properlydispose of absorbent materialsalong with your trash.

DO NOT dump your used oil directly on the ground.

DO NOT dump your used oil down a street or storm drain. Moststorm drains lead directly to a waterway.

DO NOT burn used oil in a burn barrel.

DO NOT burn used oil from vehicles in an oil-fired space heaterat your home. Burning used oil in a heater that it is not designedfor can cause problems with the equipment and create a firehazard.

DO NOT use used oil to kill weeds on your property or to controldust on drives or roadways.

Handling Used Oil from Your Home

2 Ohio EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Proper Handling of Used Oil

After changing the oil in your vehiclesor equipment:

1. Pour the used oil into a cleanplastic reusable container and sealit shut. Never mix used motor oilwith other materials such asgasoline, fuel oil, paint products,antifreeze, brake fluid, pesticidesor other household chemicals.Once motor oil is contaminatedwith these products, it is nearlyimpossible to recycle.

2. Remove the oil filter, turn it upsidedown and drain it at a 45 degreeangle into the oil catch panovernight. Seal the filter in aplastic zipper bag, coffee can withlid, or other leak-proof container.Contact your local service stationsor scrap dealers for recyclingoutlets. If youve completelydrained the filter and cant findsomeone to take it for recycling,you can dispose of it along withyour regular trash. Make sure itsbeen well drained first.

3. Take the container of used oil to aused motor oil collection center.Many service stations and otheroutlets that sell new motor oil allowconsumers to deposit used oil intheir collection tanks. Others have

set up drop-off sites whereresidents may take small amountsof used oil and deposit it intospecial containers for recycling.

For more information about localopportunities, contact your localsolid waste management district(listed under county government inthe blue pages of the phone bookor at www.epa.state.oh.us/dsiwm/document/swmdclear/swmd_chair_list.pdf on theinternet).

For More Information

1. American Petroleum Institute used motor oil Web page: www.recycleoil.org/

2. U.S. EPA oil Web page: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/oil.htm

3. Earth911 Web page: www.earth911.org

4. Advanced Auto Parts recycling Web page: www.advanceautoparts.com/english/services/recycling.asp

5. AutoZone recycling program Web page: www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/fluid_recycling.htm

4. Many Valvoline Instant Oil Change,Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone,and BP ProCare (full-servicestations only) locations will acceptused oil. Check for other localcompanies that may accept usedoil by going to www.earth911.orgon the internet. Always call aheadto make sure the local businesswill accept your used oil and findout if there are any specialinstructions you need to follow.

5. After depositing your used oil, takethe reusable container home withyou to use the next time youchange you oil.

Improper disposal of used oil costsmoney - your money! You pay in higherconsumer prices, taxes forenvironmental cleanups and increasedhealth care costs when wastes areimproperly managed. Recycling savesmoney and protects the environment.So help be a part of the solution, notpart of the problem!