Before cleaning off and celebrating, you have to do something with the full oil drip pan and the old oil filter. Pour the oil down the storm drain in the street. Even if storm drains are connected to sewers, treatment plants are not equipped to handle oil coming from houses. It takes specialized systems and equipment to remove oil from water. One quart of oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
Used oil is recyclable.
Two and one half quarts of lubricating oil is gained by re-refining one gallon of used oil. You can participate in oil recycling by draining used oil into a clean container with a tight fitting cap. Do not mix the recovered oil with any other liquid, and make sure the oil is free from dirt, leaves and other debris. Many auto parts stores will accept your oil for recycling at no charge. Minus one point.