Hi! I recently did my first oil change on my own, on my gen 2 Prius (228,000miles). I used paper towels to clean up. Can I just throw away the oil soaked paper towels in the trash? Or do I have to dispose of them another way? Thanks
Motor oil has certain hazards but is not significantly more toxic than other household waste. I always recycle any liquid/flowing oil, but toss the towels. A bit of oil absorbed into a paper towel would not pose more of a threat to ground water than anything else in the landfill. Besides, trying to recycle oil-soaked solids would generate its own problems.
Thank you Dad2pwd for taking my question seriously. I recycle my engine and transmission oil at O’Reilly’s. I figured I could just throw the towels, but I didn’t know if it was considered hazmat waste and had to be disposed of at some kind of hazmat drop off facility. I’d rather ask and be safe, then be sorry out of ignorance.
Thanks again
Hazmat? 😆 mechanics would have to work like this, instead of being up to their elbows in the stuff every day.
You do realize the same way you’re skin absorbs water, it can also absorb other fluids including toxic ones right? Just because people submerged themselves in oil, that doesn’t mean they aren’t slowly killing themselves in doses. Think back when you were in science class and learning about acids and bases. When you had a strong acid or base you didn’t just dump it down the drain, you neutralized them first. Understand my concerns now? Since you also seem to be a person of science, why choose telurium for spark plugs? I know they don’t exist, but out of curiosity what made you choose that compared others on the periodic table? I’m aware it is used in alloy metals but need to research it more.
your concerns are misplaced.
You have to kneel before your car, bow your head, and recite a prayer thanking your car for sacrificing its lifeblood to bring you to work. You must then build a pyre, sprinkle it with the finest 93 octane gasoline, and ignite it with a telurium spark plug. Only then may you place the soiled towels on top, and waft the smoke over a freshly opened engine air filter. Once the towels have been consumed, annoint your tires with the ashes. The ritual is complete. 😉
It's interesting when you're told to recycle hazardess waste like what you drain out of your car (including the oil filter) but find that there's no one within 50 miles that'll accept the waste. I don't understand why the local AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, or O'Reilley will only accept engine oil but none of the other stuff. How are you suppose to comply with the law under these conditions? There's a place that's 90 miles away but no one should have to do that. Anyway, it's my understanding that oil soaked paper towels and rags can be disposed on in the regular trash.
It’s better for the environment if everybody drives those 50 miles themselves in separate vehicles 🙄
Lots of fire departments recycle oil, filters, rags, and oil containers or at least provide a safe way to get rid of them. Most dumps do too if you live in the country.
