Used motor oil and oil filters: where they go
Updated · General information about how programs commonly work — not instructions for your location.
Call ahead. Hours, fees, residency rules, appointments and accepted materials change. Check the official page or call before you go. Never mix chemicals, and keep products in their original containers. Every listing links to its official source.
Rules differ by place. Your city, county or state program decides what it takes and how. Follow its official page and the product label. We don't give handling or disposal advice. For a poisoning or chemical exposure call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; for an emergency call 911.
Used motor oil from changing your own oil can be re-refined or reused, which is why many communities collect it. The U.S. EPA tells do-it-yourselfers to check with local automobile maintenance facilities, waste collectors and government waste officials to find out when and where to drop off used oil, and to collect it in a leak-proof container (EPA, “Managing, Reusing, and Recycling Used Oil”, summarized from an epa.gov search on November 9, 2026).
Where used oil is commonly collected
- Household hazardous waste sites and events run by cities and counties — usually with antifreeze and oil filters too.
- Government collection centers such as convenience centers or recycling centers that list used oil.
- Auto parts stores and service stations — many accept do-it-yourself oil. We list a store only when a government agency lists that location as a public drop-off, and we never use a retailer's store finder; call the store to confirm.
Rules that commonly apply
- Quantity limits per visit (often a few gallons for households).
- Containers: many programs ask for a sealed, leak-proof container and may not return it.
- Contamination: oil mixed with water, gasoline, antifreeze or solvents often can't be recycled as used oil and may be refused or handled differently. Ask your program before you bring it.
- Filters: some sites take oil filters, some don't, and some ask that they be drained first — follow the official page.
- Businesses: household programs usually don't take oil from businesses. We don't advise businesses on used-oil rules.
See used oil recycling listings in this directory, and confirm current rules on each official page.
Find a program
Browse by state, search by ZIP or city, or jump to hazardous waste drop-off sites, paint disposal, used oil recycling or collection events.