Used Oil Recycling Program

CalRecycle’s Used Oil Recycling Program promotes alternatives to illegal disposal and encourages the recycling of used oil.

Find a Recycling Facility

Learn More About How Often to Change Your Oil

Major Program Goals

Provide the public with convenient collection locations for used oil.
Develop methods to motivate the public to recycle their used oil.
Provide payments to local governments for used oil and oil filter collection and recycling programs.
Provide grants for research and projects.

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The Used Oil Enhancement Act:
- Discourages illegal disposal
- Promotes used oil recycling statewide
  Publication Category

Read our collection of used oil publicationsopens in a new window on various topics, including:
- Annual reports
- Technical reports
- Guidebooks
- General public information
Learn more about rerefined oil.
Learn more about the Certified Collection Center Program.

How to Recycle Used Motor Oil

General Public

You can take your oil to a certified collection center.
Many communities have curbside recycling programs that allow you to leave your oil at the curb (properly packaged).
You can have your oil changed by a service station that recycles the oil for you.

Certified Haulers

Take the oil from the collection centers or generators to a recycling facility.

Businesses

Small quantities of used oil can use the same options that the general public uses.
Certified collection centers (CCC) may set a maximum daily limit of 5 gallons per day.
- With large quantities of used oil, call the CCC in advance.
If you use larger quantities, you may qualify to register as an industrial generator.
- You will need to have your used oil picked up by a certified hauler.

Public Service Announcements

3000 Mile Myth
Audio (00:00:30) | PDF Transcript (2008) More information…

Used Oil Should Be Recycled
YouTube (00:00:32)

Used Oil Should Always Be Recycled
YouTube (00:00:26)

Recicle Aceite Usado (En Español)
YouTube (00:00:26)

What Are the Hazards of Used Oil?

Used oil can contain such contaminants as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium, and chlorinated compounds.

Oil poured down drains or onto the ground can work its way into our ground and surface waters and cause serious pollution. One gallon of used oil can foul a million gallons of drinking water.

How Can You Help?

You can participate in oil recycling by following these tips:

Drain your used oil into a clean container.
Do not mix any other materials, including water, with used oil.
Take your used oil to a household hazardous waste collection facility or a used oil collection site. To find the collection center nearest you, call 1-800-CLEANUP or see our database of certified used oil collection centers.

What Is California Doing?

CalRecycle has certified over 3,000 used oil collection centers that will take used oil from the public and even pay a 40-cent-per-gallon recycling incentive.
CalRecycle also offers grants to local governments for used oil collection and education programs.
CalRecycle works with other State agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the Coastal Commission, to deliver used oil recycling messages.
California Environmental Protection Agency’s toll-free hotline number 1-800-CLEANUP

SB 546 Used Oil Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Project

Used Oil Statutes

Used Oil Management: Health and Safety Code, Section 25250.1-25250.25
Used Oil Recycling Enhancement Act: Public Resources Code, Section 48600 et seq.

Statutes can be retrieved from the Legislative Council’s website.

Used Oil Regulations

Current regulations: Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 8

California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act

Senate Bill (SB) 546 (Lowenthal)

For more information contact: Certified Collection Center, UsedOilCCC@calrecycle.ca.gov or Household Hazardous Waste, UsedOilHHW@calrecycle.ca.gov.