Used Oil Collection

Every time you change your motor oil, recycling that used oil helps keep Los Angeles clean, safe, and sustainable. At LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN), our Used Oil Recycling Program provides convenient, free recycling options so residents can safely dispose of used motor oil and oil filters.  

Used motor oil is classified as a hazardous waste under California law. It is illegal and harmful to pour used oil down storm drains, dump it in household refuse bins, or pour it onto the ground. Through our partnership with CalRecycle and local auto parts stores, we collect and recycle hundreds of thousands of gallons of used motor oil each year, transforming a potential pollutant into a valuable re-refined resource.

Improperly discarded motor oil is one of the single largest sources of water pollution in urban runoff:  

• Drinking Water Protection: Just one gallon of used motor oil can contaminate one million gallons of fresh drinking water - a full year's water supply for 50 people!  
• Oil Filter Recycling: Used oil filters retain a pint to a quart of residual oil even after draining. A single quart of trapped motor oil can pollute up to 250,000 gallons of drinking water if sent to a landfill.  
• Storm Drain Safety: Rainwater carries oil dumped on streets straight through storm drains into the Los Angeles River and Santa Monica Bay without treatment. Proper recycling ensures our waterways stay clean and safe for marine life and recreation.  

We provide multiple convenient ways for City of Los Angeles residents to recycle used oil and filters free of charge:  

• State-Certified Collection Centers: Local auto parts stores and service stations certified by the State of California accept up to 15 to 20 gallons of clean motor oil per person per day (in containers of 5 gallons or less) and pay a cash incentive of 4 cents per quart (16 cents per gallon).  
• Non-Certified Collection Centers: Participating service stations accept used oil from the public and set their own daily quantity limits.  
• S.A.F.E. Centers & Mobile HHW Events: City S.A.F.E. (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables, and Electronics) Centers and mobile Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection roundups accept used motor oil, oil filters, and contaminated oil mixtures.  
• Community Oil Recycling Events: Free Saturday collection events held in local neighborhoods throughout the year, funded through CalRecycle grants. 

To ensure used motor oil can be re-refined and reused, it must remain pure:  

• Keep It Clean: Pour used motor oil into a clean, empty plastic container with a tight lid.  
• Never Mix Liquids: Do not mix motor oil with gasoline, antifreeze, paint stripper, solvents, or pesticides. Mixing motor oil with any other substance contaminates the entire batch.  
• Handling Contaminated Oil: Certified auto parts stores cannot accept contaminated oil mixtures. If your oil becomes contaminated, bring it directly to a City S.A.F.E. Center or an HHW Mobile Collection Event for safe handling.

Did you know modern vehicles can often travel 5,000 to 10,000 miles or more between oil changes? Changing your oil only when necessary reduces oil consumption, protects the environment, and saves you time and money. Check your vehicle owner's manual for recommended service intervals or check online resources like CheckYourNumber.org.

Our urban recycling network is built through strong agency and community partnerships:  

• California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) 
•  Local auto parts retailers and certified automotive service stations  
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (HHW Roundups)  

• Automated Oil Recycling Hotline: 1-800-98-TOXIC (1-800-988-6942)  
• LASAN 24-hour Customer Care Center: Call 1-800-773-2489 (Select Option 4 for Household Hazardous Waste)  
• Commercial Business Recycling Enquiries: 1-800-988-6942