First published in the April 28 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
As California continues to be a leader in environmental justice laws and programs, many residents look for personal solutions to help keep California green and clean.
One way Californians can make a big impact is by recycling their used motor oil and oil filters when they do oil changes at home. According to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, approximately 100 million gallons of used oil are recycled in California each year.
The DTSC states that recycling and reusing used motor oil provides environmental benefits because it can be continuously re-refined into new oil or processed into fuel oils, which reduces the need to produce “new” oil. Additionally, used oil filters contain reusable scrap metal, which steel producers can reuse as scrap feed.
When doing oil changes at home, it is crucial that the used motor oil and oil filters are disposed of correctly and not poured down a drain, put in the trash or poured on the ground or into a storm drain.
The Environmental Protection Agency said that used motor oil from a single oil change can ruin a million gallons of fresh water — that’s a year’s supply for 50 people.
For instructions on how to properly store, dispose and recycle both used motor oil and oil filters, visit CleanLA.com, or call (888) CLEAN LA.
