Recycling Oil

[Bob_Roller]

Went into the local chain type auto parts store to dispose of some used motor oil, and I was asked if contained any gear oil, ATF, or brake fluid.

I said it had a few quarts of gear oil in it, and they refused to take it.

Anybody else run into this ?

So I'm left with no choice but to put it in the garbage for disposal in a landfill.

[Ed Miller]

Where I live they want us to add it in, even the brake fluid.  That surprised me, but I bet they just burn it up at the Brooks garbage burner, not recycle it.  I don't know.  I take mine to a local recycling place on my way to work, where I also take metal, cardboard, glass and plastic.

Our instructions are also just to pour antifreeze down the toilet, which I won't do as I have a septic tank.  But at work it just goes into the municipal sewer.  Weird.

[Bob_Roller]

I inquired as to where I should take used coolant from a water cooled engine, and I was told the same thing, just pour it down the drain.

From what I was told the glycol breaks down in a week or so in the sewage system, and doesn't do any harm.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Gglycol must break down a lot faster than whatever they put in prescription drugs!  

I am assuming you all are aware of the media news a few weeks ago about finding trace amounts of a whole bunch of different script drugs in water supplies in the U.S.
Male fish are starting to mutate with female traits due to birth control pills.

Apparently most of this is from urinating what didn't get absorbed by the body.
And then it makes it all the way through the filtration process to the tap (on city water...(hi Ed!)) where we drink it and cook with it.
It is said that reverse osmosis is the only way to clean the water, and that is much more expensive than the current methods.

It has made me wary of what I pour down the drain anymore.  

Our efforts at recycling may just be a hopeless dream.  Think of all the mercury in those compact flourescent bulbs that the U.S. Federal gov't are going to be shoving down our throats in a few years.  Do you really think the average "american" cares about what they throw in the trash can?  Living with my sister & bro-in-law was a real trial in this respect.  I cannot throw out stuff than is accepted at a recycling center.  They have no global consciousness.  


Oh, and a decent water sample test probably costs a few hundred dollars.  About 10 years ago they were priced at (IIRC) about $50 for a test for stuff that you can see, and I think it was $200 for the comprehensive test.
I didn't get the expensive one.  I am still alive...

[MrRiden]

Bob,
That really is odd. I've had no difficulty in dropping off oil, gear lube or glycol at the local chain. I've also had no problem getting or returning jugs of Safety Clean solvent over in chandler.
rich

[Bob_Roller]

Rich,

This was at the Checker Auto Parts store on 48 th st, and Elliot Rd.

I'll have to try the one on Ray Rd. and McClintock Rd. next time.

Who knows, city of Phoenix may be the culprit here !

[Justin B.]

Well, at least you know next time to say it's just motor oil!

[thrang]

I take mine down to the local recycling skips where they have a collection point for motoroil, gear box oil and break fluid. They ask for it to be kept separate, but it likely all gets burned together in the end.

[Semper Gumby]

Autozone take the oil with no questions.  I let the filter drain dry and then throw them out.  Religious about this. 8-)