Both of these resources could have been recycled instead. The Filter Manufacturers Council has predicted that filter usage will continue to rise to the tune of an additional 100 million by the end of the decade. Consequently, some states and communities are now starting to address the issue of oil filter recycling. It is likely that more states and communities will follow suit in the future. As with oil recycling, methods of oil filter collection may vary from area to area.
Some communities operate public collection centers.
Other communities have initiated curbside collection. In some states, retail outlets and service stations will accept used filters. Waste oil filter disposal is difficult. The construction of the filter results in a waste product with filter media impregnated with waste oil, and free oil, trapped within a steel shell. Separating the three materials for recovery has been studied for years, with mixed results.