Be part of the solution:

Recycling makes more sense today 

than ever. Recycling saves money and protects

the environment. Improper waste management

costs money — your money. You pay in higher

consumer prices, taxes for environmental

cleanups and increased health care costs.

Here’s what you can do:

• Protect our environment and conserve

our resources by taking your used motor

oil to the nearest used oil collection

center, such as a service station, lube

center or automotive store. 

• Look for the oil drop. It is an industry

symbol signifying used oil is 

collected for recycling and reuse.

To find used oil collection centers in 

your area, call 1-800-CLEANUP or visit

www.cleanup.org.

For more information on managing used

motor oil, visit EPA on the Web:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/

hazwaste/usedoil/index.htm

Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response

EPA530-F-02-027

Winter 2003

www.epa.gov
Recycling your oil helps the

environment, saves energy and 

protects our drinking water.

USED MOTOR OIL FROM A SINGLE OIL CHANGE

CAN RUIN A MILLION GALLONS OF FRESH WATER

— A YEAR’S SUPPLY FOR 50 PEOPLE.

Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent and can

contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals. It’s

slow to degrade. It sticks to everything from beach

sand to bird feathers. Used motor oil is a major

source of oil contamination of waterways and can

result in pollution of drinking water sources. 

ON AVERAGE, ABOUT FOUR MILLION PEOPLE

REUSE MOTOR OIL AS A LUBRICANT FOR OTHER

EQUIPMENT OR TAKE IT TO A RECYCLING FACILITY.

Recycled used motor oil can be re-refined into new

oil, processed into fuel oils and used as raw

materials for the petroleum industry. One gallon of

used motor oil provides the same 2.5 quarts of

lubricating oil as 42 gallons of crude oil.

BECOME USED MOTOR OIL RECYCLER NUMBER

FOUR MILLION AND ONE. 

Begin recycling your used motor oil today. If all

the oil from American do-it-yourself oil changers

were recycled, it would be enough motor oil for

more than 50 million cars a year. Imagine how

much foreign oil that would eliminate. 

Used motor oil from cars, trucks,

boats, motorcycles, farm equipment

and lawnmowers can be recycled

and re-refined.
Recycling your oil helps the

environment, saves energy and 

protects our drinking water.

USED MOTOR OIL FROM A SINGLE OIL CHANGE

CAN RUIN A MILLION GALLONS OF FRESH WATER

— A YEAR’S SUPPLY FOR 50 PEOPLE.

Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent and can

contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals. It’s

slow to degrade. It sticks to everything from beach

sand to bird feathers. Used motor oil is a major

source of oil contamination of waterways and can

result in pollution of drinking water sources. 

ON AVERAGE, ABOUT FOUR MILLION PEOPLE

REUSE MOTOR OIL AS A LUBRICANT FOR OTHER

EQUIPMENT OR TAKE IT TO A RECYCLING FACILITY.

Recycled used motor oil can be re-refined into new

oil, processed into fuel oils and used as raw

materials for the petroleum industry. One gallon of

used motor oil provides the same 2.5 quarts of

lubricating oil as 42 gallons of crude oil.

BECOME USED MOTOR OIL RECYCLER NUMBER

FOUR MILLION AND ONE. 

Begin recycling your used motor oil today. If all

the oil from American do-it-yourself oil changers

were recycled, it would be enough motor oil for

more than 50 million cars a year. Imagine how

much foreign oil that would eliminate. 

Used motor oil from cars, trucks,

boats, motorcycles, farm equipment

and lawnmowers can be recycled

and re-refined.
Be part of the solution:

Recycling makes more sense today 

than ever. Recycling saves money and protects

the environment. Improper waste management

costs money — your money. You pay in higher

consumer prices, taxes for environmental

cleanups and increased health care costs.

Here’s what you can do:

• Protect our environment and conserve

our resources by taking your used motor

oil to the nearest used oil collection

center, such as a service station, lube

center or automotive store. 

• Look for the oil drop. It is an industry

symbol signifying used oil is 

collected for recycling and reuse.

To find used oil collection centers in 

your area, call 1-800-CLEANUP or visit

www.cleanup.org.

For more information on managing used

motor oil, visit EPA on the Web:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/

hazwaste/usedoil/index.htm

Solid Waste and 

Emergency Response

EPA530-F-02-027

Winter 2003

www.epa.gov