Used Oil & Oil Filters

Recycling Program

Doing your part to recycle your used motor oil may seem like a drop in the bucket, but it all adds up to a cleaner and safer environment.

The Importance of Recycling Used Oil

In California, used oil is a hazardous waste. One gallon of improperly disposed oil can contaminate one million gallons of water. It is illegal to discharge any oil into the sewers, drainage systems, surface or groundwater, or to deposit it on land, unless otherwise authorized by law. One in five households in California may be dumping used oil illegally. For more information on used oil recycling, check out the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) website.

You Can Participate in Used Oil Recycling by:

  • Draining oil into a clean container with a tight fitting cap (such as an empty milk or water jug).
  • Not mixing the recovered oil with any other liquid, and making sure the oil is free of dirt, leaves, and other debris.
  • Taking oil to one of the used oil collection sites listed below. (Do not transport more than five gallons of used oil in five-gallon containers at one time).

State Certified Used Oil Collection Centers in the City of Poway

Most centers accept up to five gallons of uncontaminated used motor oil, in containers no larger than 5 gallons each, per person, per day. Certified centers will accept used motor oil at no charge and offer a recycling incentive of $0.40 per gallon. Please call first to confirm participation and hours of collection.

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the City of Poway provide funding for the Used Oil Recycling Program.