Changing a car’s oil at home is proven to be cost effective. Proper disposal of used oil is something that you may do to protect water quality in your immediate area.
In Madera County, there are multiple locations where one may dispose of used motor oil. Oil may be cleaned and used many times. Therefore, transporting used oil to these Certified Collection Centers is a fantastic opportunity to recycle. In doing so, you are doing your part to preserve the cleanliness of local waterway ecosystems.
Dumping used motor oil down the storm drain is illegal! One quart of motor oil dumped down the storm drain will contaminate 250,000 gallons of water. Moreover, when 4-6 quarts of motor oil from one single vehicle is dumped into a water system, this may create an eight-acre wide oil slick. This oil slick could poison wildlife and harm birds whose feathers become soaked in oil causing these animals to no longer be able to keep warm.
Debris, chemicals, solutions contained in runoff water enter the storm drains and make their way to the local water ways, untreated. Nationally, it is estimated that 200 million gallons of used motor oil is dumped in landfills, storm drains, on the roads, and in sewers each year and contribute 40% of the total water pollution. It is imperative that we do not pollute in order to keep our rivers and streams clean and healthy.
Click here to see a list of Certified Collection Centers in Madera County.