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In today’s world, automobiles are an important and necessary part of everyday life. To keep your vehicle running well, it is important to change the vehicle’s motor oil regularly. But did you know that how you choose to dispose of your used oil can either help or harm the environment?
Used oil is a valuable resource. It can be reconditioned to remove impurities, reprocessed and burned to produce heat and electricity or re-refined to produce new lubricating oil. Recycling your used motor oil can save up to 85 per cent of the energy needed to refine crude oil and can prevent environmental damage and potential health problems caused by improper disposal.
If you take your car to a service station for oil changes, they will safely dispose of the used oil for you. However, if you do it yourself, you need to take it to an approved collection outlet for recycling.
It is NOT safe to put used motor oil in your household garbage or to pour it on the ground or down a storm drain.
Place your oil in a clean, leak-proof container with a screw top lid, such as a milk jug or the original container. Do not use a container that previously held cleaners, solvents, fuels, paint or bleach. Residue in these containers may contaminate the oil, which may make it unacceptable for recycling.
In Red Deer, used oil can be taken to the following locations:
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Canadian Tire at 2510 Gaetz Ave
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Canadian Tire at 300 – 6380 50 Ave
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Wal-Mart at Parkland Mall
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Wal-Mart at Southpoint Common
The City of Red Deer can NOT accept used oil at the Waste Management Facility as it is not a certified used oil collection center.
Did you know?
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One litre of motor oil has the potential to contaminate a million litres of drinking water.
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Recycling eight litres of oil can conserve enough electricity to power the average home for one day.
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Recycled oil is used extensively in the production of asphalt for roads and highways.
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Oil filters are recycled into products such as rebar, nails and wire.
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Empty plastic oil bottles can be recycled into new containers, plastic flowerpots, plastic pipe, guardrails, fence posts and plastic patio furniture.
For more information, refer to the  Alberta Used Oil Management Association website.
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