Cars are an indispensable fact of life for most of us. What we do with the used oil from our cars plays an important role in balancing our desire for convenient transportation with our desire for a clean and healthy environment for today and for future generations.

We are all familiar with recycling newspapers, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. But, did you know that you can also recycle used motor oil?

Motor oil doesn’t wear out, it just gets dirty. Once recycled, it can be reprocessed and used in furnaces for heat, or in power plants to generate electricity for homes, schools, and businesses. It can also be made into lubricating oils that meet the same specifications as virgin motor oil.

How to recycle used oil:

• Drain the oil from your car’s engine into a drip pan. Draining should be done when the oil is warm to ensure that any sludge flows out smoothly. Allow the oil to drain until it is flowing at a slow, intermittent drip.

• Replace the drain plug and then move the oil pan to a location where you can safely pour the oil into a container. Wipe up any drips with a paper towel.

• Using a funnel, pour the oil into a clean plastic bottle with a lid that screws on tightly. Although auto parts stores sell containers for this purpose, a used plastic milk jug works just as well.

• DO NOT use bottles that held bleach, cleaners or other automobile fluids such a antifreeze – they can contain residues that contaminate the oil.

• Take your used oil to the drop-off container located at the SECCRA Community Landfill.

For more information about used oil recycling, contact the SECCRA Community Landfill at 610-869-2452.