Used Motor Oil Recycling

Did you know...?

• The used oil from one oil change (approximately 4 quarts of oil), dumped down a storm drain, can contaminate 1 million gallons of water—a year’s supply for 50 people.
• One pint of oil can produce an oil slick nearly one acre in size.
• Dumping used oil onto the ground contaminates underground water supplies and is nearly impossible to clean up.

About half of all motor oil used in cars in Chicago is replaced by car owners who change the oil themselves. Often these individuals dispose of the oil by pouring it on the ground or into the sewer, which is illegal. Because used oil does not readily dissolve in water and is slow to degrade in the environment, improper disposal of used oil pollutes our soil and water, and can damage local water treatment plants.

Used motor oil can be re-processed, re-refined and re-used. If you change your motor oil yourself, please dispose of the used oil by taking it to a nearby facility for recycling. Used motor oil can be dropped off at any Household Hazardous Waste Collection site. In addition, many auto-care businesses now accept motor oil for recycling, guaranteeing that people have a safe, legal place to take used motor oil. Visit Illinois Earth 911 for a list of businesses accepting used motor oil near you. 

If your business generates or handles used oil, there are certain good housekeeping practices you must follow. These management standards were developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and are common-sense business practices designed to ensure the safe handling of used oil, maximize recycling and minimize disposal. The standards apply to all used oil handlers, regardless of the amount of oil they handle.

Improper disposal of used oil costs money...your money! When used oil and other wastes are improperly managed, you pay in higher consumer prices, taxes for environmental cleanups and increased health care costs . Recycling used motor oil saves money and protects the environment.