Let's get one thing straight: when it comes to getting rid of old motor oil, there are two places it should never go — down the drain or in your regular rubbish bin. The only right way is to collect it properly in a sealed container and take it to an authorised drop-off point, like your local council depot or a participating auto parts shop.
Why You Can't Just Throw Away Used Motor Oil
Used motor oil isn't just dirty — it's loaded with toxic junk it picked up from your engine, including heavy metals like lead and arsenic. That turns a simple lubricant into hazardous waste. A single litre of oil can contaminate up to one million litres of water.
Impacts of improper disposal
- Pouring down drains — ends up in rivers and oceans, harming aquatic life and polluting drinking water supplies.
- Throwing in rubbish — oil seeps from landfills into the ground, contaminating soil and groundwater for decades.
- Dumping on the ground — kills plants, poisons soil, and washes into nearby waterways.
Used motor oil doesn't just disappear. It sticks around in the environment, causing long-term damage that is incredibly difficult and expensive to fix.
How to Safely Collect and Store Used Oil
A decent drain pan with a wide mouth and high sides is your best friend. Once drained, you need a safe container — don't reach for an old milk jug or soft drink bottle, as the plastic breaks down and the caps don't seal. Better options:
- The original bottle: carefully pour the used oil back into the bottle the new oil came in — purpose-built with a screw-on cap that seals tightly.
- A dedicated container: for frequent oil changes, buy a container made for used oil from an auto parts shop.
A simple but critical final step: grab a marker and clearly label the container "Used Motor Oil".
Store it upright in a cool, dry spot, out of reach of kids and pets.
Finding Your Nearest Used Oil Collection Point
Australia has a solid network of collection points, and for household amounts it's usually free. Common drop-off locations:
- Local council waste depots or transfer stations — most have designated tanks for used motor oil.
- Auto parts stores — chains like Supercheap Auto and Repco often have a collection tank.
- Participating workshops — some local mechanics will take used oil; worth a quick call.
A tool like RecyclingNearYou lets you enter your postcode and pulls up a map of authorised facilities.
I always recommend calling ahead — confirm opening hours, that the tank isn't full, and any specific rules. Most public sites take up to 20 litres per person at no charge.
What Happens to Oil After You Drop It Off
The real win is when used oil is sent for re-refining, not just burned as low-grade fuel. At a specialised plant, water and solids are filtered out, then techniques like vacuum distillation and hydro-treating strip away spent additives and impurities, leaving a clean, high-quality base oil — the main ingredient for brand-new lubricants.
Re-refined base oil is often so pure it's practically indistinguishable from "virgin" base oil. Recycling used motor oil can save up to 90% of the energy it would take to produce the same oil from crude.
What Not To Do With Your Used Motor Oil
- Don't grab just any old container — flimsy milk jugs or soft drink bottles can split or leak. Use the original oil bottle or a sturdy screw-top container.
- Never pour it down a drain — it's illegal, and one litre can contaminate up to 1 million litres of water.
- Don't chuck it in household rubbish — it ends up in landfill, seeping into soil and groundwater.
- Never mix in other fluids — coolant or brake fluid contaminates the whole batch and gets it rejected.
The golden rule is simple: keep your used oil pure. That's the only way to ensure it can be properly re-refined.
Got Questions About Oil Disposal?
Can I toss empty oil bottles in my recycling bin?
No — even an "empty" container has a film of residual oil that classifies it as hazardous waste, so most councils won't accept it kerbside. The same place that takes your used oil usually has a spot for empty containers.
How do I clean up an oil spill on my driveway?
Act fast and don't hose it down (that sends pollution into stormwater). Contain the spill, cover it with something absorbent like kitty litter, sand, or sawdust, let it soak, then sweep it into a sealed bag — it's contaminated waste, so call your council for disposal.
Does it cost anything to recycle used motor oil?
For everyday quantities it's almost always free, thanks to a small levy on new oil that funds collection and recycling. Most facilities take up to 20 litres at no charge; commercial volumes are handled by paid waste services.
We offer competitive cash prices with on-the-spot payment and free towing anywhere in Adelaide.