Check with your solid waste district to see if there is an oil filter recycling program. If not, dispose of the drained filter by wrapping it in either foil or plastic and putting it in the trash. Brake and transmission fluids are similar to antifreeze and should never be mixed together or with antifreeze or gasoline. Drain these fluids into sturdy, sealable containers or bring these fluids to a service station, hazardous waste depot, or collection event. For most families, this will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 6,000 pounds per year.
Used oil is toxic because of the products of incomplete fuel combustion.
If improperly disposed of, oil can contaminate drinking water supplies and food chains. A single quart of motor oil dumped on the ground can seep into groundwater and pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. Do not pour oil or other chemicals down storm drains, where they often flush directly into surface waters. As with spent antifreeze, to recycle waste oil call your solid waste district for collection sites, check with local service stations and auto dealers to see if they take waste oil for energy reclamation, or bring waste oil to household hazardous waste depots and collection events. Waste oil is banned from Vermont landfills.