The
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 185 million gallons of
used motor oil are improperly disposed of by consumers each year—dumped on the
ground, tossed in the trash, or poured down the drain. In fact, improperly
dumped motor oil releases about 25 times more oil into the environment than
spills from all modes of oil transportation combined.
When
dumped down the drain, this improperly disposed oil either goes straight to the
fresh water supply or the ocean, contaminating water that could be used for
drinking, the subsistence of aquatic life, or recreation. According to the API,
recycling the motor oil from just one oil change protects a million gallons of
drinking water, or a year's supply for 50 people.
Jiffy
Lube is the designated used-oil collection center for dozens of municipalities
throughout the United States. Jiffy Lube service centers collect the used oil
from your oil change, along with oil brought in by do-it-yourselfers, and send
it to a recycling center.
Used
motor oil is not put back into automobiles. Most often, it's re-refined and
used to make heating oil, asphalt, and other lubricants. In addition, it’s
often used in the oil/petroleum refinery industry.
The
next time you have your oil changed or you change it yourself, be sure to take
your used oil to a designated oil collection site, such as a New England Jiffy Lube service
center, for proper disposal. By collecting used oil at every oil change, you
can do your part to protect our environment and stop the unnecessary and
dangerous disposal of used oil.
Photo Credit: "exfordy"
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