Three Easy and Free Ways to Recycle Used Motor Oil and Filters

Do you or someone you know change their vehicle’s motor oil? If you’re in the DIY oil change club, read on to find out about your recycling options. Already went electric? This high five is for you ✋.

1. Recycle at a collection center – Over 50 drop-off options to choose from.
🏪 No appointment needed.
🏪 Calling ahead is recommended as storage tanks can get full.
🏪 Always give your used oil and filter to a staff person during business hours, don’t leave the materials outside the building.

2. Recycle at the curb – Never leave home.
🗑 No appointment needed.
🗑 Place your used oil and filter next to your recycling bin on your regular collection day.
🗑 Some haulers provide free recycling containers for your use. Visit the link above to check requirements and limits.
🗑 Not available for Recology San Bruno and Recology of the Coast customers.

3. Recycle through the County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program – Clean out your garage and safely get rid of all your hazardous products that are expired or unwanted at the same time. 
📅 Upcoming appointments are available!

♻ San Mateo | August 27, September 1, 2, 8, 9, 10
♻ Foster City | August 27
♻ Daly City | September 10
♻ Redwood City | September 24  
♻ South San Francisco | October 1
♻ More appointment dates are available on the website.

📅 Bring used motor oil and filters and other household hazardous waste items like paint, batteries, CFL bulbs, antifreeze, etc. Here’s a link to what is and is not accepted through the Program.

⚠ Reminder! Used motor oil mixed with anything else can’t be recycled and must be managed through the County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program. 

⚠ Don’t forget your filter! Both metal and paper/cartridge filters must be managed using one of the three options above. They are hazardous and can’t be trashed.

🔧 Do you need supplies to complete your oil change? Email pollutionprevention@smcgov.org if you need an oil drain pan, oil filter recycling container, oil rag, or funnel to get the job done right. Limit two items per resident, while supplies last. Must pick up from our office in San Mateo during business hours.

5 Eco Tips for the Ocean-Loving Boater

Boaters are drawn to the beauty and serenity of our oceans and waterways. They’re also responsible for preventing pollution and protecting our marine ecosystems, which are sensitive to hazardous waste, motor oil, and trash that may come from boats. Hazardous waste and motor oil can be harmful to marine wildlife, even in small quantities. Additionally, ocean animals may become entangled in trash or mistake plastic for food.

Luckily, there are many ways boaters can get “all aboard” with pollution prevention. Here are five eco tips for the ocean-loving boater:

1. ⚠️Safety First – Switch to Reusable Flares

• Boaters in the U.S. are legally required to carry visual distress signals. However, expired, single-use marine flares are extremely hard to dispose of and are considered explosive hazardous waste. 
• Go reusable –Stock your boat with Electronic Visual Distress Signal Devices (eVDSDs). They are safer for your family, better for the environment, never expire, and are ultimately more cost-effective.

Save 10%! For the rest of 2022, California boaters can take advantage of this discount for a U.S. Coast Guard approved pyrotechnic flare replacement from Sirius Signal.

2. 🛢️ Safely Dispose of Used Oil and Oil-related Items

• Used motor oil, oil filters, and oil cleanup absorbents (e.g. bilge pads) pose a threat to the ocean and our waterways if not properly disposed of. 
• If you’re a boater in San Mateo County, your marina will help you recycle or safely manage used oil, filters, and oil absorbent materials — call your Harbormaster for details or click here for a marina phone directory. 

If you live elsewhere in the Bay Area, check out this San Francisco Bay Clean Boating Map for locations of marina-based pollution prevention services.

3. ☢️ Properly Dispose of Hazardous Waste

• Many items you may have in your boat such as paints, varnishes, batteries, oil, oil filters, and old fuel are hazardous waste that pose a threat to humans and the marine environment. 
• Too toxic to trash – safely manage hazardous waste using retail drop-off locations, curbside pick up, or by making a FREE drop-off appointment. 

4. 🧼 Go Green and Clean

Many cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to marine ecosystems if released directly into waterways. 

• Choose less toxic cleaning products, which were tested by the BoatUS Foundation for eco-friendliness and effectiveness. 
• Wash your boat on land in a designated wash area or on a permeable surface that will absorb and filter the wash water.

5. ♻️ Repurpose and Recycle Old Gear

If you have unwanted boating gear that is still in good condition:

• Donate it to someone else or set up a gear exchange at your marina. 
• Reel in and recycle – fishing lines are not biodegradable and marine life may suffer from line entanglement. Find a list of line recycling container locations here.  

Out with the old, in with the new – if your gear is past its useful lifetime, see if there are options to recycle it into something new. For instance, SeaBags turns old sails into reusable bags, and Suga recycles old wetsuits into new yoga mats!

These tips are brought to you by San Mateo County Environmental Health Services (EHS). EHS works to ensure a safe and healthy environment in San Mateo County through education, regulation, and monitoring. Visit smchealth.org/boatoil for more boater information and resources. 

Put the Brakes on Frequent Oil Changes

Did you know many cars can go 10,000 miles without an oil change? We know you have got a lot of ground to cover and sights to see, so don’t waste time on unnecessary oil changes!

Reasons to change your car’s oil less often:

Recycle Used Motor Oil Filters (But NOT in Your Garbage or Recycle Bin)

A used oil filter may contain up to 10 ounces of used motor oil inside.

What happens when a used oil filter is improperly disposed of? The oil trapped inside the filter will ooze out and contaminate our streams, neighborhood streets, and the local landfill.

Once oil contaminates a landfill, over time it can gradually reach underground water sources. The California Department of Resources Recycling & Recovery (CalRecycle) estimates there are at least two million gallons of motor oil lost when filters are not properly recycled at a used motor oil and filter collection center.

Have You “Checked Your Number” Lately?

What’s your car’s “number?”

By Julia Au, Pollution Prevention Specialist, San Mateo County Environmental Health

I was recently reminded by my mechanic that I’m overdue for an oil change, but when I checked my service manual it turned out that I actually had a few thousand miles left before my next service.

If you own a car like I do, keeping up with servicing your car is important, which includes routinely changing the oil. But do you know how often your car really needs an oil change? Most people think it’s every 3,000 miles, however that is no longer the norm.

Free Motor Oil Filter Exchange Event March 26th

Come to our upcoming filter exchange event!

Too often used motor oil filters are not recycled and end up in the trash. San Mateo County has over 65 locations for “Do It Yourself” oil changers to drop off used motor oil and filters for proper recycling. There’s also a good chance you can even have these hazardous items picked up from your curb on your garbage day!

To promote used oil filter recycling, San Mateo County is hosting a filter exchange event on March 26th at the O’Reilly at 7283 Mission St. in Daly City, from 10am to 2pm.

Used Motor Oil and Oil Filters – Linked for Life

Crushed oil filters on their way for recycling.

What happens when a used oil filter is not properly disposed of? An oil filter may contain up to 10 ounces of used motor oil trapped inside, just waiting to ooze out and contaminate our streams, neighborhood streets and the local landfill. Once oil contaminates a landfill, over time it can gradually reach underground water sources. The California Department of Resources Recycling & Recovery (CalRecycle) estimates there are at least two million gallons of motor oil lost when filters are not properly recycled at a used motor oil and filter collection center.