municipal oil drop off??

[TYMinColton]

I live about 40 miles outside of portland, in the country. We're able to put used motor oil curbside as long as its in a clear container (like a milk jug). Recycling just picks it up along with paper/plastic/glass/alum. I've put out 4-5 gallons at time with no problem. Unfortunately they won't accept used oil in its original packaging, so those 1qt plastic bottles all need to go to the landfill. Definitely, changed my mind about buying oil in 4qt containers!
P

 

[charlz]

As I have previously mentioned we can dispose of used oil curbside along with our trash service, 2 gallons per week. We also have a disposal facility for 'Household Hazardous Waste' (HHW) that takes all manner of stuff 2 days a week. They also have 'satellite' collection points that are open certain days of the month.

They not only dispose of stuff but you can get someone else's 'junk' for free!

"MATERIAL REUSE PROGRAM

While at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, take a look in the Material Reuse Program area. This is an area where Ada County makes products received at the Facility available to the public FREE of charge.

By making these products available, the material is used up rather than processed for disposal. You save money because its FREE. Ada County saves money because it does not have to pay for processing and disposal.

Products that are in their original container, at least one-half full, and that have not been altered (or banned), are placed on shelves in the Facility for the public to take FREE of charge.

A sampling of products you may find in the Material Reuse Program:

Paints
Wood stain
Paint thinner
Brake & Transmission fluids
Automotive products
Pesticides/Insecticides
Herbicides
Fertilizers
Cleaning supplies
Solvents
Lubricants"

I have to go down there and check it out one of these days

 

[dmccarty]

My county is pretty good about oil. Most of use go to a collection area to drop off trash and they have a tank to hold used oil. For paints, antifreeze, bug killer, etc they have a collection day one Saturday a month most of the time during the year. They make it very easy.

Back in the city they would pick up at the curb. Place the oil containers at the curb, call them on the phone, and they would come and get the used oil.

Later,
Dan

 

[amigauser]

I noticed I was in a parking lot to a public works depts for that county I was in.. in the corner of the parking lot was a self service oil drop off vessle.. basically you could bring in as much oil to drop off as the container would hold.. no signup oor anything.. total self service. kinda neat idea.. If all counties did this.. it might keep some oil from going into the landfill.. or just dumped when no one is looking..

soundguy

My town highway department handles it the same way. Used batteries and oil can be dropped off any time day or night for no charge. It is totally self service.

 

[PILOON]

Same here in Province of Quebec.
EKO centers will take oils tires paints etc.
Tires mounted on rims however carry a $5.00 fee.
They also accept used expired propane tanks.

 

[Soundguy]

My town highway department handles it the same way. Used batteries and oil can be dropped off any time day or night for no charge. It is totally self service.

I wish my local city/county did that.. it's a nice idea.. way better than it hitting the roadside in the middle of the night for those that don't want the hassle.

soundguy

 

[Sackett2]

Our town maintanence dept. uses a waste oil heater to heat their shop. They are generally happy to take used motor oil. Alot of private auto rapair shops do the same (which is why they are always trying to sell you oil changes!). .

Going to counter this statement.. Auto shops do oil changes to look at your vehicle and hopefully sell you other repairs, (Brakes and such) Very little profit in a oil change.

Now, used oil is a commodity. It has a value, but only in bulk. Everyone check with a local repair shop (that is convenient to you) and ask if you can bring in used oil, most will not have a issue with it.

I put all my oil into a 5 gal gas can and when it gets full I cart it to work. At work we have never turned anyone down for taking old oil, and we don't look at it as free money; its just part of life. All out atf, gear oil, and even brake fluid goes into the same place- a wee bit of coolant also from heads that come off.

Used oil burners ore OK, but not used a lot here- I understand they are hard to maintain...

 

[brin]

When I change my hyd. fluid in my New Holland TC -29 I went to Wal Mart and bought one of their $5 plastic storage boxes with a lid that said it would hold 12 gallons or so..the tractor held 9 or 10 gallons of hyd. fluid so I needed a low container like this to catch it...so I changed it and put the lid on the container and put it in the back of the pick up and drove with my MRs. to the county landfill where they have a big white box looking thing with a sink to pour your discarded oil into.

Well let me tell you ..I don't know what oil weighs per gallon but water weighs 8# per gallon so using that if I had 10 gallons then that was 80# of liquid moving around in a rectangular container that I had to lift about 5 feet into the air..No problem but the problem turned out to be that the little inlet in the sink could not handle the amount of oil I was pouring in ..remember I am holding this rectangle container up there with about 80 or more pounds and at the rate it was taking the oil I would have been there for 15 min. or more so in it went and half of it at least ended up on the ground where I noticed there was plenty more oil...must have happened to anyone who had a similar amount to dump in there..anyway, I got back in the truck after having to wipe all the oil off my shoes...oil everywhere....Would you not think they would provide a big enough inlet to allow a reasonable flow of oil to go in...it was a mess...LOL

 

[Soundguy]

was there a vent cap that you had to loosen? it may have been trying to vent thru the inlet if the vent was closed or blocked up ( mud dauber.. etc. )..

That's not an ideal setup trying to pour from a 10g sump .. IMHO.. I think I would have made it a tad easier and at least xfered it into 2 5g pails that you likely had to buy to get the 10g of oil replaced...

soundguy

 

[kenmac]

I wait till I get several gallons & take it to 1 of the quick oil change places. They seem happy to take it. They tell me if I'm ever by & they aren't open just leave it by the door & they will take care of it