Used Motor Oil, Oil Filters and Antifreeze Collection Sites

This site identifies Collection Sites for Used Motor Oil, Oil Filters and Antifreeze in Virginia. The initial source of the data was data from the 1999 "Virginia Used Oil, Filter, and Antifreeze Consumer Management Study" produced by the Northern Virginia Regional Comission (formerly the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission), updated in 2003 by Southeast RCAP, and then updated with contact information from Waste Motor Oil Burning Equipment Certification Applications.  The site listings are updated as new information is submitted by citizens, businesses or local governments. 

The Used Oil Recycling Program was originally directed towards Do-It-Yourself (DIY) oil changers, and as DIY'ers appear to fewer in number today, the used oil recycling program promotes the responsible management of used motor oils, antifreeze and other automotive engine maintenance fluids, and oil filters by all sectors, both public and private.  As an environmental hazard, used motor oil or antifreeze should never be poured on the ground or down a storm drain.  When managed properly, used motor oil, oil filters and antifreeze and other automotive engine maintenance fluids can be recycled or "beneficially used."

For information on the impacts of the improper disposal of used motor oil and the recommended methods of collecting used oil for recycling and reuse, please refer to the American Petroleum Institute's Used Motor Oil Collection and Recycling Website at www.recycleoil.org and EPA's Used Oil Management Program at www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/usedoil/. 

Many service stations, auto repair shops, parts stores and local governments provide collection sites for these waste products.  Information on the collection center locations may be accessed through DEQ's Toll-Free Hotline number, 1-800-592-5482.  The current database identifies over 1,000 collection sites for these materials in Virginia, in categories of private businesses, locality-based collection centers, and facilities that use the collected oil in waste oil burners on-site.

The collection sites are listed alphabetically by locality and denote which waste materials they accept. (MO = Motor Oil; OF = Oil Filters; and AF = Antifreeze) Some centers may charge a small fee, as they have to pay a collector to remove and process the products. Of the locations listed: all accept used motor oil, and some accept used oil filters and used antifreeze.  When contacting the collection center, verify that the site accepts the material you want to recycle, and how it requires the material to be packaged.

Please call your local collection site to make sure that they are still collecting these automotive waste products. Also, remember to bring your materials in appropriate containers. For safety reasons, you should not transport liquids in glass containers. Also, you should wrap your used oil filters in paper to prevent leaks or spills. YOU SHOULD NEVER MIX other fluids with your oil or antifreeze.

For additional information, please contact:

• Steve Coe (804-698-4029)

** Retailers that sell motor oil, oil filters and other automotive engine maintenance fluids but do not accept these products for recycling can download a "Recycling" poster to provide information to their customers using this web link.