From the Wellesley Recycling & Disposal Facility:
Many Americans change their own oil, for a variety of reasons. It saves money, people enjoy the feeling of “doing it themselves,” and for people with a busy schedule, it’s sometimes easier than making an appointment and waiting at a service station. Unfortunately, for a long time people were disposing of their used oil improperly— dumping it down storm drains, throwing it in landfills, etc. Very little oil is needed to contaminate fresh water—a gallon of used motor oil is enough to foul one million gallons of drinking water. And used motor oil is an amazing resource! One gallon of used motor oil (approximately one oil change) provides the same lubricating effect of 42 gallons of crude oil.
The Wellesley RDF accepts used motor oil year round, during regular business hours. Make sure not to mix your waste oil with any other chemicals. Put it in a clean plastic container—and label it, especially if you are not recycling your oil immediately after an oil change. Did you know that if all the oil from do-it-yourselfers was recycled, that’d be enough oil for 50 million cars? Think of what a difference that could make!
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