Used Oil Recycling - Planet Ark Recycling Near You

Motor oil

Used motor oil, or 'sump oil' as it is sometimes called, should not be put in your recycling or garbage bins at home as it can pollute water ways and soils. Although it gets dirty, used oil can still be cleaned and reused.

When changing the oil in your car or other motors such as lawnmowers, boats or chainsaws, be sure to dispose of it correctly. Oil picks up hazardous contaminants when used in engines and can pollute water and soil. Pour your used motor oil back into an empty oil container and take it to your local used oil facility for recycling. Check with the facility as they may also accept your oil filters and oily rags.

Many council facilities such as transfer stations, waste management centres or landfill sites accept used motor oil. You may be able to drop off used oil through household chemical clean out programs run by your council or state government.

Your local petrol station may also accept used motor oil for recycling.

Oil - Used Motor

About used motor oil

  • Oil is a valuable and finite resource.
  • Each year, more than 500 million litres of motor oil is sold in Australia.
  • It takes only one litre of oil to contaminate one million litres of water and a single automotive oil change produces 4 to 5 litres of used oil.

Source: Dept. of the Environment & Heritage

Importance of recycling motor oil

  • Used oil is hazardous. Lubricating oil picks up a variety of hazardous contaminants when used in engines and transmissions including lead, dioxins, benzene and polycyclic aromatics.
  • Leaving used oil sitting in your garage is a potential fire hazard.

Source: Dept. of the Environment & Heritage