I was collecting a bunch of stuff over the years mostly from working on my cars. Motor oil is easy - just a local place with DIY pouring of used oil into a drum. Used containers can be recycled even with oil residue, or that's what an employee there told me.
However, I was trying to unload a bunch of stuff including old fluorescent tubes (most hardware stores or Ikea won't take tubes), a bit of used coolant, and those oily paper towels and Chux (someone gave me a couple dozen medical pads) that I used when changing oil. My county's household hazardous waste drop-off center is contracted out to a private company. The employee told me they couldn't take those oily rags and I could legally dispose of them in the trash. Also that I could toss the used oil containers in the trash. In previous visits they actually took them. Not sure if it's new policy or what. Maybe the employees have a different take.
I did have this collection container I got there years ago that I forgot had used oil. Not sure what happened, but the top was cracked but the oil didn't spill as I kept it upright. It also came in a large Ziploc style bag which kept a bit of the leaking oil. They took the whole thing. Also less than a gallon of used coolant in an old gallon bottled water jug - the kind with a non-screw top cap.
I feel kind of bad about dumping oily rags in the trash, but they told me it's OK. I've disposed of paper towels after I checked a dipstick.
However, I was trying to unload a bunch of stuff including old fluorescent tubes (most hardware stores or Ikea won't take tubes), a bit of used coolant, and those oily paper towels and Chux (someone gave me a couple dozen medical pads) that I used when changing oil. My county's household hazardous waste drop-off center is contracted out to a private company. The employee told me they couldn't take those oily rags and I could legally dispose of them in the trash. Also that I could toss the used oil containers in the trash. In previous visits they actually took them. Not sure if it's new policy or what. Maybe the employees have a different take.
I did have this collection container I got there years ago that I forgot had used oil. Not sure what happened, but the top was cracked but the oil didn't spill as I kept it upright. It also came in a large Ziploc style bag which kept a bit of the leaking oil. They took the whole thing. Also less than a gallon of used coolant in an old gallon bottled water jug - the kind with a non-screw top cap.
I feel kind of bad about dumping oily rags in the trash, but they told me it's OK. I've disposed of paper towels after I checked a dipstick.