What do you do with used oil filters?

Diamondpilot · Nov 20, 2010

I was changing the oil on my Nissan Titan today before dinner and got to thinking there has to be a better way to deal with used oil filters. I have been just wrapping them up in a WalMart bag after they drain and throwing them in the trash. From time to time they leak out and make a mess.

So what are you guys doing?

I figured it up and I am doing about 40 oil changes a year at home in my equipment and the 3 main customers equipment I take care of and about another 40 on the road, mainly boats at the marina. I recycle every drop of oil in 5 gallon buckets with tops and pour spouts and 1 gallon oil jugs. I mainly give it to the guy at the local Mom and Pop Gas Station. He sells it. But I also take it to Auto Zone and other parts stores from time to time. It just seems there has to be a better way to deal with filters.

Not only do I throw away about 75 to 80 oil filters per year but also about 25 or so spin on fuel filters, fuel water separators, and hydraulic filters.

Chris

Willl · Nov 20, 2010

I take mine to work where they have a hydraulic filter crusher.

Wonder if some of the places that take used oil will also take used filters ?

Sackett2 · Nov 20, 2010

Some auto shops will take them with the used oil.

Diamondpilot · Nov 20, 2010

I have not seen any around here. Most of the local Hill Billys just burn them in the fire pit. Guess its no worse than me throwing them in the trash.

If I could find someone to take them I would build a drain rig. I have the grate out of a old gas grill that would work perfect. I would have my Sheet Metal buddy build a drip pan that had a slight drop to one corner. I could put a drain on that corner with a hose leading down to a jug to catch the oil that drains and mount it up on the wall. Something big enough to hold 10 filters would be big enough for me. Once they drained for a couple weeks I would toss them in a 5 gallon bucket and once that was filled haul them off to the recycle if there was one????

Chris

Gale Hawkins · Nov 21, 2010

If you heat a shop with wood you can recycle the energy by tossing them in the stove. Not too much left when you remove the metal.

A local tractor dealer begs for used oil to fire his oil burner heating system.

Willl · Nov 21, 2010

Wow, did a quick search to find a pic of the type of crusher we have at work and was shocked at the price they want for these things.

Would you believe it's close to $3000, for a can crusher ?

edit; opps, forgot pic. For clean up, they toss in a can of brake clean. I kid u not.

Gary Fowler · Nov 21, 2010

I suppose that if you had a hydraulic press, you could crush them between 2 plates and catch the dripping (what a mess that would make). I like the idea of burning them in the wood stove, but I dont have a wood stove, although I guess I could burn them in my brush piles, but I usually do like everyone else, just drain them in my oil catching pan and then toss them in the trash. I am sure there is still a bit of oil left that goes to the dump and this is probable illegal to do, but I dont have that much to do, just a couple of autos and 2 tractors that maybe get changed once a year and twice a year on the vehicles which we only average about 10K per year on each. I usually save my used oil to pour on my brush piles rather than use diesel to start. The oil works better anyway. I think I will also save my filters now and toss them on the pile and later retrieve the metal. I know it's maybe not as environmentaly friendly as recycling, but if I add the fuel needed to take them to a recycle place that would be at least a 50 mile trip from my house, I might be saving some pollution by just burning them. Maybe not, but its a lot less hassle.

zmoz · Nov 21, 2010

I find they make PERFECT fuel for the wood stove....

Egon · Nov 21, 2010

Up here we have a hazardous waste disposal sites for such items.

s78wingrider · Nov 21, 2010

I drain mine and throw in with the scrap metal that's sold at salvage yard :thumbsup:

QRTRHRS · Nov 21, 2010

I remove the gasket, toss them into my waste paper when I burn and pull them out later to go with mixed scrap. Not the best solution but better than throwing them in the trash with oil residue in them IMHO.

shade tree welder · Nov 21, 2010

QRTRHRS said:
I remove the gasket, toss them into my waste paper when I burn and pull them out later to go with mixed scrap. Not the best solution but better than throwing them in the trash with oil residue in them IMHO.

Similar I toss the gasket, let the oil drain in to my waste oil drum, then burn
out the filter and glue in the burn pile the remaining steel goes to the scrap
yard with the other scrap.

My used oil goes to my local implement dealer as they have a waste oil
burner for their shop.

crazyal · Nov 21, 2010

I just leave the spin on filters face down in a funnel so they drain for a few days. The local transfer station takes the old oil for free (since burning it is a no no) but they just toss the filters into the regular trash. Things like paper diesel filters I burn since they only have fuel in them. The few spin on fuel filters/ water separators I have I treat just like used oil filters.

gauthier · Nov 21, 2010

Throw them in the trash can after the oil drains out of them on my gravel drive:laughing:

EE_Bota · Nov 21, 2010

It is unlawful in N.C to throw them in the trash.

I keep them, well drained. Then when I get several, I open them and remove the paper, which I burn, and recycle the scrap metal.

Do any of you have one of those can openers that cuts the side of the can instead of the top of the can? Would you mind seeing if those will open a spin-on oil filter?

MtnViewRanch · Nov 21, 2010

Check with your local Auto Zone. They should take the filters along with the oil that you are dropping off.

gauthier · Nov 21, 2010

Well theres laws and than theres laws:laughing: You ever hear of anyone getting in trouble for throwing one oil filter out in trash that has 3-4 bags?

Many of the laws we have now,only apply if you get caught

MtnViewRanch · Nov 21, 2010

gauthier said:
Well theres laws and than theres laws:laughing: You ever hear of anyone getting in trouble for throwing one oil filter out in trash that has 3-4 bags?

Many of the laws we have now,only apply if you get caught

Don't all laws only apply if you get caught? Not getting caught doesn't make it right though.

I don't think that I would want to be in trouble with the EPA either.

Diamondpilot · Nov 21, 2010

I really do not know the answer. I just know the 75 or more I put in the land fills each year can not be good. Burning them is probably no worse. Its either the air or the ground water????? Just seems there should be a place that would take them and properly dispose of them.

Now that I think of it I have 2 friends in the oil business. One has a Pennzoil type Jiffy Lube place and the other is a large oil distributor that sells to shop, farmers, miners, ect. I will have to check with them.

Chris