recycling used motor oil

There is such a law in PA:

https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-informati...

No one seems to be aware of it and it isn't inforced.

AutoZone claims they accept used oil but as you've found out, try and find one!

https://www.autozone.com/diy/motor-oil/how-to-recycle-motor-...!

We have several Advance AutoParts facilities that are often adjacent to PepBoys. In my vicinity I have found (3) such locations and all the PepBoys take the oil. I think the key is volume; obviously a Pep Boys is doing service (like oil changes) and generate a decent amount of used oil. But I have a AutoZone that doesn’t do service and I would suspect they wouldn't accept used oil.

I’m also fortunate in the area to have a business that recycles used oil for their diesel powered truck fleet. They have even provided a well designed concrete slab where the used oil is placed by the public.

Plus, the fact that I am getting older. I take it to a local AAA owned repair shop. I buy my oil at Costco and take it to the shop and they change the oil at a discounted rate. I don’t have to worry about getting rid of the oil and filter and I don’t have to crawl underneath the car. Win-win in both situations!

Advance also excepts it if you can find one. You would think any major auto parts store would except it.

If the Walmart store has auto service, they may also take in used oil. I have recycled with them in Indiana.

In NC, my local Autozone has a large tank in the back of the store. I just walk in, dump my 5 qt jugs and leave. The only thing they don't want is the empty jug. But they have a couple trash cans outside where I sometimes leave it. I generally take it home and use it for cooking oil as the town picks that up if it is at least a gallon.

Where I live in Colorado recycling is easy. Suddenly a few years ago I saw that they also collected used oil filters so I drop them off too. I was puzzled since I hadn't read anything about oil filter recycling.

In the 70's I managed a Sunoco service station.

Once in a while a truck would come around an suction all the used oil from our tank and PAY us for that oil. About 1974, they started charging us to pump out the oil. I asked the driver why there was a change and he replied "The EPA". They had to purchase new trucks and upgrade their their storage facilities to meet the new EPA regulations.

It costs to recycle that oil and business' are reluctant to do so.

the retailers' dirty little secret.

I had a friend that drove a bus for the MTA in NYC. They routinely violated peoples' rights.

It was like a 1930's comedy act.

If a subject made a formal complaint, it got funneled to the depot, the boss calls my friend in, says there was an incident at such and such a location and time. Friend says, "No knowledge." Boss says, "No knowledge?" Friend repeats, "No knowledge."

Same thing with the union rep. "No Knowledge?" "No knowledge."

This was in the 90's and today there are cams, so, I kinda doubt they do the same thing, but I could be wrong.

The equivalent of "no knowledge" in PA and NJ? "My tank is full."

I just want to be a wise *** nowadays as I leave with my tail tucked and the jugs of used motor oil. Today I say, "When's it getting drained? I'll come back."

"Dunno." With a smirk.

That's no good. Not a problem here as all chain parts stores take it.

Don't certain auto stores take the used oil? I usually use O'Reilly Auto Parts.

PA is certainly behind the times when it comes to used oil disposal. I find this surprising considering the high cost of most petroleum products and the growing recycling market.

Even 20 years ago, there was money to be made with used motor oil. Back then, I worked for a company that serviced its own vehicles and had a 300 gallon tank to store used oil. When it was full, a tank truck would come and pump it out. I don't remember exactly what we got for than oil but it was substantial.

Up until a year ago, a local tractor dealership had a tank in front of their building where customers could leave used oil. They heated their buildings with waste oil furnaces. They stopped the practice because people would leave oil contaminated with things like anti freeze, that would damage the heating equipment.

As others have said, I stopped changing my own oil because disposing of it became too difficult.

Here in SE PA, Chester County in particular, I don’t find it an issue at all to dispose of used oil. Several places within just a few miles of home accept it without issue.

name these places? I can easily drive over there.

For Chester County, you can find a list at https://west-chester.com/DocumentCenter/View/126/Automotive-.... Note the list is a few years old so conceivably could be out of date with respect to a singular location. I generally use AutoZone or Advance as I have two about a 1/2 mile apart. I have also encountered some locations that limit you to two of the 5-qt oil containers.

A few days ago I dumped my seven quarts from a five gallon pail at he nearest Advanced Auto. They had a new funnel on the "dumpster". It was square, about two foot on a side and made dumping easy. Without that 15 pounds was difficult due to the awkward height and distance from my body.

These lists can be of help in some locations but the one we have up here in NEPA is useless. I have no idea how old it is, or when it was last updated, but all the locations it mentions are either out of business or no longer take used oil.

Maybe it's a regional thing.

This prompted me to look for something similar in my county:

https://www.delcopa.gov/recycle/pdf/motoroil.pdf

There's someone on the list who gave me a hard time (that helps to dissuade future visits, the hard time and standing there for 15 min).

I notice there aren't any chains on the list, and notice, there are no businesses listed in so called nice areas like Wayne, Villanova, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Radnor...which is interesting in itself.

The Chester Co. one clearly has places listed like Sears, Pep Boys implying not up to date within 5-10 years (Pep Boys DOES NOT accept used motor oil at ANY location period--they once did).

It's awful, without regulation like in NYS, this is what we get unfortunately.

Again I guess I should say seems Jiffy Lube in my area is 100% acceptance, so my new go to. Auto Zone on Chapel Ave in Cherry Hill NJ as well. Need to be specific as others are no dice.

I don't know about garages, but our local landfills in Waterloo Region, Ontario have a big tank where we can take as big a jug as you want to have recycle.

this again yesterday.

At this point, I was caught up, not looking at 3-5 jugs in my garage.

btw, in NYS, 4 jugs per day are the law lol that a retailer must accept.

Since my car takes 7 quarts, I had a 5 qt jug, and another 2 qts in a 5 qt jug, not excessive.

Got a good deal on amazon and thank goodness Castrol has foil seals (from memory Valvoline and Pennzoil do not, so I have gotten used motor oil when buying from Walmart--was pretty angry).

I went to my trusty go to that has been good for maybe a year--an oil change place that has the same first name as the corn muffin mix that starts with a J, and the second part of the name is "Lube."

A fine young gentleman said, "They won't let us accept it anymore." Then he said, "Sorry." So I actually felt he was sincere. He said "they" said there is too much contamination. That's a shame because that implies dishonesty on the consumer side. Kinda like when Costco took car batteries back no questions asked.

Where did I go? To a large AZ up the road. They gladly took it. This one is not near my home. I'll try them next time again. The one near my home has signs that they recycle and WILL NOT ACCEPT IT. Think it's funny too.

I really hate this refusal in PA when it's the right thing to do. Where else are people putting it? Into the woods? Streams? Storm drains?

This, I didn't know.....

One gallon of used motor oil that is re-refined will produce 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil, but it takes 42 gallons of crude oil to produce the same 2.5 quarts of lubricating oil.

Re-refining used motor oil takes only one-third the energy of refining crude oil to lubricant quality.

I’ve spent a good portion of a 50+ year career as a mechanical engineer in the petro/chem industry and although the statement I’ve drawn attention to is fundamentally factual it leaves out the fact that crude oil has a large number of components of which only a few are suitable for motor oil, but the other components are useful for products ranging from light elements (gasoline) to heavy (asphalt).

I'm also in PA and have this issue on a much larger scale.

I have two tractors that are due for engine and hydraulic oil changes. Each uses 20 gallons of oil for a total of 40 gallons I have to dispose of.

The dealer wants $2000 to do the oil changes but I can do in myself for around $900 (the hyd. oil is quite expensive). The dealer used to take the used oil if I bought it new from them which I do. Now, they refuse, even though the PA law requires them to do so.

I even went so far as to report the violation to the local sheriff. He just laughed and said "Join the crowd".

It seems like a conspiracy against Saturday afternoon mechanics to keep them from changing their own oil.

FWIW, a new Auto Zone just opened in town. At least for now, they will accept up to 5 qts. of used oil. I guess I'll have to make 32 separate trips to get rid of my tractor oil.

for pointing it out. As a consumer, I have found little correlation between the price of motor oil in a 5 qt jug, and the price of a barrel of oil. I just got the Castrol Edge Euro 0W40 for $23--I would say this is the same as it was in 2019. So to DIY in 2026, it's not much more than 2019. But an oil change at a dealer has gone from maybe $60 to $130. Who woulda thunk any domestic vehicle could cost $130 for an oil change? For me it has always been about making sure the work is actually done, then cost savings....

loves company. At least someone else in PA thinks this isn't right. Something so basic. I don't appreciate being treated like a criminal asking a service station who lists themselves on a recycler website when I ask to recycle oil. And folks that sell motor oil and perform oil changes, should accept it for recycling. I can't wait for a "county event" to properly dispose of the oil, I could have 45 quarts by then. We have 3 vehicles and their capacities are as follows: 8 qts, 7 qts, 5 qts. NYS would accept that in one day, here it's the evil eye if more than one jug lol

I will say this, 2/3 Auto Zones now accepted it. As luck would have it, only the one near my house refuses. And again the laughing while telling me they won't accept it is rude.

In Ontario, we pay an eco fee on most things which is supposed to go to recycling. The trouble is no one wants your old used stuff , so it gets thrown out.

I'm just able to swing by my nearby school's mechanic shop and they're happy to take the used oil off my hands. I find it funny seeing people try to sell them on marketplace.

Never had a problem with an auto parts store not accepting it, I would look for a national chain parts store if you are having difficulty.

Does anyone know if Walmart in MD accepts used oil? Thanks.

Used to have a skid tank next to the shop where customers could put their used oil. They heated the place with waste oil heaters. They stopped the practice after people started dumping other crap, like anti freeze, in the tank.

In California it's easy to find places as they are required to accept old oil. When I was a kid used motor oil was poured along fence lines and such to kill weeds. Today it sounds bizarre but it was "normal" back then.

try Pep Boys

O’Reilly’s always takes mine with no problem. Our county also does a semiannual collection of hazardous materials.

Stopped many years ago. Used to have a clipboard where people put fake names and phone #'s I do remember that gig

Not even thought of that until last week. If that's the case, into the woods everything will go?

It's no different than people claiming Costco batteries needed replacement, when they knew Costco didn't load test them. My buddy works at BPS and people routinely use items and return them (expensive ones).

Maybe the question really is, what is an honest DIY'er to do in 2026 PA? When I have 7 qts legit used motor oil. My wife's, 8. My daily, 5. Right now, it's that specific AZ location that I'll try next time.

It not only kept the dust down but kept it from washing away.