Did you know that used motor oil never wears out? It just gets dirty and can be recycled, cleaned, and used again. Recycling used motor oil conserves a natural resource (oil) and is good for the environment too! Motor oil poured onto the ground or into storm drains, or tossed into trash cans (even in a sealed container) can contaminate and pollute the soil, groundwater, streams, and rivers (and it's illegal!). Recycling your used motor oil reduces this pollution threat. When you take your used oil to a certified center for recycling, you are protecting the environment, conserving a valuable resource, and getting paid for it. That's a winning combination!

The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department has a used oil program whose goal is to promote the recycling of used oil and the use of re-refined oil.

What Are the Hazards of Used Oil?

Used oil can contain such contaminants as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium, and chlorinated compounds. Oil poured down drains or onto the ground can work its way into our ground and surface waters and cause serious pollution. One gallon of used oil can foul a million gallons of drinking water. Federal reports indicate that used motor oil accounts for more than 40 percent of the total oil pollution of our nation's harbors and waterways.

Tips

• Drain your used oil into a clean container.
• Do not mix any other materials, including water, with used oil.
• Take your used oil to a household hazardous waste collection facility or a used oil collection site - collection sites in our area are listed below

Help us keep our environment clean!

• Collection Sites in Livermore
• Livermore Residential Curbside Used Oil Collection
• Collection Sites in Pleasanton
• Information for Do-it-Your-Selfers
• Information for Businesses
• Used Oil Facts
• Used Oil Filter Disposal