Automobiles and light trucks produce over 600 million gallons of used oil annually. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , over 200 million gallons of this oil is tossed into the trash, spilled onto the ground or poured down drains and sewers each year. During use, motor oil comes in contact with bearings, seals and other engine parts which add heavy metals and other contaminants considered hazardous to humans. So improper disposal creates a real threat to human health. Used oil dumped onto the ground reduces soil productivity, contaminates groundwater , and can poison fish and other wildlife.
Recycling used motor oil decreases our dependency on natural resources and conserves energy.
Three times more energy is used to process crude oil than to re-refine used oil. By recycling, the U.S. can save thousands of barrels of oil per day. It takes just one gallon of used oil, compared with 42 gallons of crude oil, to produce the same 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil. As for quality, today's re-refined oil products meet or exceed the same stringent performance standards that apply to virgin oil products. These filters contain a high steel content and additional motor oil, both easily recycled.