Used Oil Recycling
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Department of the Environment and Heritage, May 2004
Why should we recycle our used oil?
Cars and machinery are an indispensable part of life for many of us. What we do with the used oil from our vehicles is vitally important to the health of our environment, and the protection of a valuable resource.
Even though Australians are generally good at recycling their used oil, up to 100 million litres "go missing" each year - dumped in household bins, poured on weeds, in ditches, or on roads for dust suppression, left lying in sheds, or illegally dumped.
Just one litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water.
Disposing of oil the wrong way can pollute our land, our water and our environment. Oil poured onto soil can seep through the ground and into the local water table. Just one litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water.
How is used oil recycled?
Used oil doesn't wear out - it just gets dirty. As it moves through the engine it picks up dangerous contaminants that are harmful to the environment and to aquatic plants and animals. Used oil can be cleaned of contaminants and recycled again and again and again.
Used oil can be cleaned of contaminants and recycled again and again and again.
There's lots of uses for recycled oil, including:
For further information on used oil and to find your nearest used oil collection facility:
oilrecycling@environment.gov.au
1800 982 006