Used motor oil is hazardous: Inside a car’s engine, it absorbs toxic chemicals and heavy metals like lead and arsenic. When poured down drains or sewers, or tossed in the garbage, it can harm wildlife and even pollute drinking water: Less than four quarts of used oil – roughly the amount used in one oil change – can pollute a million gallons of water.

But motor oil is also recyclable, which protects the environment and saves resources: One gallon of used motor oil makes about a half-gallon of new oil, while it takes 42 gallons of crude oil to produce the same amount. Auto repair and oil-change businesses are required to recycle used motor oil, but many car owners who change their own lack convenient access to recycling.

How can we recycle more motor oil to protect people and the environment? Extended producer responsibility. EPR programs for motor oil have been operating in Canada and Europe for nearly three decades – some are able to collect more than 90% of used motor oil and produce new oil that is made of 100% recycled content.

EPR programs like these incentivize the design of more sustainable products and build supply chains for those made with recycled materials, which are the building blocks of an emerging circular economy that protects our environment and builds a better future.

In 2018, PSI hosted the “Make Every Drop Count” webinar to educate key stakeholders – the first step towards motor oil EPR.

What can you do? Tell your representatives that you support motor oil EPR legislation. Then, learn where to recycle or safely dispose of used motor oil in your community.

If you’re a PSI Member or Partner, search our Resource Library for information on motor oil stewardship in the United States and around the world and our Legislation Library for a history of EPR bills and laws in the U.S.