Household Hazardous Waste Facility: Automotive Products

Automotive products, such as oil, lubricants, oil filters, antifreeze, gasoline, brake fluid, transmission fluid, car wax, and car polish, are flammable. Some are toxic and corrosive.

• Motor oil can be recycled at numerous sites around town.
• The Household Hazardous Waste Facility staff will ensure that a number of automotive products such as motor oil, oil filters, car batteries and antifreeze are recycled.
• At the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, new or nearly new products are stored at the Public Reuse Store and given away on a first come, first served basis.
• Automotive products that cannot be recycled and are unsuitable for the reuse store are shipped to an EPA-regulated incinerator.
• Some auto parts, such as alternators, starters, brake pads, master cylinders, and brake shoes, carry a core charge on the old part and can be returned to the parts store when replacement parts are purchased. Please do not bring auto parts, such as spark plugs, plug wires, shock absorbers or other small parts or tires to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

• Keep used fluids separate from one another. Mixing them may make them non-recyclable. An example is gasoline and oil. Program personnel will tell you which items can be mixed. Call 974-4343.
• Keep oil change pans free of water. Oil that is contaminated with water or gasoline can't be recycled, and must be disposed of in an expensive manner. Store your used oil in a leak-proof container, such as a reusable combination drain pan/storage container. Staff at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility will empty these containers and return them to you. Detergent bottles and soda bottles with screw-top lids also make good storage containers. Keep lids tightly secured.
• Before transporting, check the container integrity, tighten lids, secure containers from shifting and cover.
• Drain oil filters prior to bringing them to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Place empty oil cans or bottles in your garbage after as much oil as possible has been used. Motor oil bottles are not recyclable and can be thrown in the trash.
• Do not store or transport solvents, gasoline or other flammable liquids in glass containers. Always use plastic or metal containers approved for storing and transporting flammable liquids.