Used oil - how do you dispose of it?

[Cicero17]

I am tempted to say I use it for dust control or treating fence posts, but the truth is we have recycling tanks throughout the county. Supposedly there is a 5 gallon limit, but by the end of each summer with tractors, boat, pickup and two cars I have over 25 gallons. No one ever says anything.

I recently found out that used fry oil works much better than used motor oil for burning the brush pile. I didn't get the black smoke and it burned just as easily. Its probably still illegal.

A friend has a shop heater and he uses both motor oil and fry oil.

Don

 

[Chris142]

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In CA, the sellers of oil are required by law to take back your used oil.

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You sure? Here in the Victor Valley Kragen will only accept 6 qts if you buy the container from them. My Jeep with the larger filter holds almost 7, the semi holds 12 gallons!

Pep Boys makes a big deal out of it. Fill out paper here, walk to the shop, be told they can't take it cause the drum is full or they are using it at the moment, walk back to remove your name from the list and see that the line to the service writers desk is out the door.

A-Zone will take 5 gallons but their tank is always full. They even put a sign on the front door.

Local lube places won't take it........I've tried.

Napa and CQ don't have a used oil container.

I've had pretty good luck with the solvent guy. He will usually take what he can fit in the drum. But he only comes once every 3 months.

So far I have about 75 gallons that I can't get rid of

 

[Kestas]

This site has been posted before. Just type in your zip code and it'll list who accepts used oil.

http://www.earth911.org/master.asp?s=ls&cat=1&serviceid=1

 

[Lexura]

Quote from http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/usedoil/

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What is the oil recycling enhancement act?
The California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act, which is administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, is a law designed to discourage the illegal disposal of used oil. This law requires oil manufacturers to pay to the Board $0.16 for each gallon of lubricating oil sold in California. Registered industrial generators, curbside collection programs, and certified collection centers are eligible to receive $0.16 for each gallon of used lubricating oil recycled.

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The recycled and re-refined oil is used in by the following retailers.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/usedoil/Rerefined/Distributors.htm

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Quart Sales: The availability of rerefined oil in quart containers is limited. Unocal's "Firebird" brand and Safety-Kleen's "America's Choice" brand are produced in quarts, but not widely distributed. A few retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Kragen's, carry rerefined oil. Many Goodyear Service Centers also carry rerefined oil for oil changes.

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[Greggy_D]

I take mine to Murray's by my house. The guys that work there just wave me behind the parts counter and I dump it myself. They must be awful trusting! I could walk out with just about anything from back there.

 

[Bob Woods]

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I dig a hole in the ground and pour it in - isn't that where it came from in the first place - dino that is.

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Synthetic comes from petroluem products too, pure PAO is used as a drilling lub and is considered safe for ground disposal, it becomes a pollutant after it is used in an internal combustion engine.

 

[Lexura]

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I take mine to Murray's by my house. The guys that work there just wave me behind the parts counter and I dump it myself. They must be awful trusting! I could walk out with just about anything from back there.

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Reading your signature, have you ever thought about Mobil COULD be using the re-refined and recycled base stock derived from the used oil you dumped?

I see no reason Group III can't be technically came from recycled oil, correct me if I am wrong.

 

[va3ux]

Neighbor's garden between 2am and 5am.

 

[cmhj]

If only it could be mixed with Southern Comfort.

 

[daves66nova]

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I dig a hole in the ground and pour it in - isn't that where it came from in the first place - dino that is.

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good idea, that way,our great-grandchildren will have an oil supply to use! lol

 

[opus1]

The Illinois EPA has several sites in the Chicago area where residents can drop off various hazardous household wastes, and I visit the one in Naperville regularly to drop off used oil, old chemicals, paint (non-latex), and fluorescent bulbs.

You do have to be a resident of the area as they will ask where you're from and have occasionally checked drivers licenses to verify.

Before I found this place, I used to go to Murray's, but I didn't like having to fill out the log every time I dropped off oil. Call me paranoid, but I kept wondering if they wound up dumping the oil somewhere they shouldn't and it got traced back to them, would I be held liable somehow since the waste oil "started" with me...? Plus Murray's doesn't take the other waste products I mentioned above.

 

[John K]

There have been reports of recycling places that have had to throw out stuff that has been contaminated by waste that isn't recyclable and want to add fines. Sometimes I think the guys that pick up the stuff don't check it closely and then they end up not being able to recycle the stuff. Most places that have curbside recycling have published guidelines for what can be recycled. No guarantee that if they pick up something it is being recycled and you could be screwing up the process..

 

[LouDawg]

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I take mine to Murray's by my house. The guys that work there just wave me behind the parts counter and I dump it myself. They must be awful trusting! I could walk out with just about anything from back there.

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So if you stole a bunch of motor oil, would we consider that Group "Free" oil?

 

[hominid7]

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There have been reports of recycling places that have had to throw out stuff that has been contaminated by waste that isn't recyclable and want to add fines. Sometimes I think the guys that pick up the stuff don't check it closely and then they end up not being able to recycle the stuff. Most places that have curbside recycling have published guidelines for what can be recycled. No guarantee that if they pick up something it is being recycled and you could be screwing up the process..

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So what would your suggestion be?

 

[Quest]

here in the land of beavers, Craappy Tires take back used motor oil as part of the environmental initiatives (some provincial govt charge extra for oil disposal, but some doesn't).

I just haul my load of used oil to CT and then pour them out.

 

[hominid7]

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You sure? Here in the Victor Valley Kragen will only accept 6 qts if you buy the container from them. My Jeep with the larger filter holds almost 7, the semi holds 12 gallons!

Pep Boys makes a big deal out of it. Fill out paper here, walk to the shop, be told they can't take it cause the drum is full or they are using it at the moment, walk back to remove your name from the list and see that the line to the service writers desk is out the door.

A-Zone will take 5 gallons but their tank is always full. They even put a sign on the front door.

Local lube places won't take it........I've tried.

Napa and CQ don't have a used oil container.

I've had pretty good luck with the solvent guy. He will usually take what he can fit in the drum. But he only comes once every 3 months.

So far I have about 75 gallons that I can't get rid of

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Unfortunatly your experience may not be rare. Next time offer to call the EPA to report their inability to accept used motor oil. I bet their oil drum will be suddenly free for you to use.

 

[fred0803]

Take the used oil to any one of the fine quickie oil change places in my city. They have to accept the oil, city ordinance and dispose of it themselves, however that is.
Fun walking in with jugs of Mobil 1, PP, and Havoline and some trans fluids as well.
They make me pour it out though... #@$%!.

 

[fred0803]

Every city has a "plan" to dispose of that used oil. Call your city government, and I bet that they can advise who is supposed to take the oil.

 

[Syntec-Man]

i just take it too work!!!

 

[onion]

There are plenty of services out there that actually pay shops FOR used oil- motor oil, hydraulic oil, gear oil... just no antifreeze or brake fluid. Not only that, but two of the heavy equipment shops I've worked at had waste oil heaters, and would gladly accept used oil from anybody who brought it in. If anybody is really having trouble getting rid of the stuff, I'd suggest that you call around to various heavy equipment, tractor, truck, and diesel engine dealers. Lots of them will take used oil, no question asked.