Old Oil and Antifreeze: Disposal in Washington

Washington Ecology’s used oil page draws a line that surprises people:

If you have a liquid that is not on this list, do not guess. Ask when you call 1-800-RECYCLE, and tell them what you know about it.

The same goes for an unlabeled jug. Keep it closed and upright, and write “unknown” on it. Do not pour it in with anything else, even if it looks the same, because one wrong guess can spoil a whole container.

Ecology’s publication is direct: “Used oil mixed with any solid or dangerous wastes cannot be managed as used oil.”

This is why a jug that holds oil and antifreeze together, or oil with some solvent in it, is harder to get rid of than either one alone. Mixing them can turn an easy drop-off into a hard one.

• Use one clean container per liquid. The original bottle or a similar one with a tight cap works well. Avoid food or drink containers, so no one mistakes what is inside.
• Label each one with a marker: “used motor oil” or “used antifreeze.”
• Keep them upright and out of reach of kids and pets. Antifreeze can be poisonous if swallowed, so wipe up drips right away.
• Put them in a tray or plastic tub in the car when you take them in, in case one leaks.

1. Call 1-800-RECYCLE

   Ecology points households to this number for used oil. Ask for the nearest drop-off.

2. Ask about antifreeze on the same call

   Because antifreeze is not used oil, ask where it goes in your area. Your county’s household hazardous waste program is another good place to ask.

3. Call the drop-off before you go

   Ask about hours, the limit per visit, and whether they take the fluid you have. Ask about any fee. We have not verified local hours or fees, and they can change.

• Do not pour antifreeze out. WAC 173-303-522 says: “Any discharge of spent antifreeze to the environment constitutes disposal,” and is subject to full regulation.
• Do not put oil or antifreeze in the trash, a storm drain, or on the ground. Water runoff can carry them a long way.
• Do not burn oil. It is not a safe way to get rid of it.

To be accurate: much of the state’s written guidance speaks to businesses more than to households. That does not make dumping fine. It means the safe household answer is the same one: separate, seal and take it to a proper drop-off.

You do not need to drain a car at home just to junk it. Fluids are drained at the auto steel recycler after we tow it. Draining it yourself adds a risk of spills and leaves you with more liquid to dispose of.

If the car is leaking now, put a drip pan under it, and tell us when you call. See a leaking junk car before pickup. To see what comes next, read what happens after your car is towed away. Our scrap car removal page covers the service itself, and how it works covers a pickup, step by step.