Recycling Used Oil
Why recycle used oil?
Used oil is a hazardous waste that should never be put in the garbage or dumped in the storm drains or ground. Even just a ¼-gallon of motor oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water.
Steps to changing your motor oil for recycling
- Drain motor oil into a drain pan.
- Drain your oil filter for 24 hours...it can hold up to a quart of oil.
- Pour your used oil into a reusable container with a tight-fitting lid. Put your filter in a plastic bag or sealed container. Well-drained motor oil containers can go in the recycling cart.
- Take your oil and filter to a drop-off center or find out if they can be collected through your curbside recycling program (see the list below).
IMPORTANT: Please don't mix oil with anything!
Locate a used oil recycling center near you
Find used oil and filter recycling drop-off locations near you. Search by city, county, or ZIP code using the CalRecycle search tool.
Certified collection centers will pay residents 40 cents per gallon of used motor oil and businesses 16 cents per gallon of used motor oil. Most centers will take up to five gallons of used motor oil at a time
Curbside oil & filter recycling collection
Many cities collect used oil and used oil filters from your home for free. Use the table below to see if used oil and filters are collected from your home or apartment in Alameda County. Call the recycling service provider listed for more information.
Jurisdiction |
Service Provider |
Curbside Pickup Options |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | ACI 510-483-1400 alamedacountyindustries.com/alameda |
Homes and apartments |
| Albany | Waste Management 510-613-8710 wm.com |
Homes |
| Berkeley | City of Berkeley
510-981-7270 |
Not available Drop-off at Transfer Station |
| Castro Valley | ACI 510-483-1400 alamedacountyindustries.com/cvsan |
Homes |
| Dublin | Amador Valley Industries (AVI) 925-479-9545 amadorvalleyindustries.com |
Homes |
| Emeryville | Waste Management 510-613-8710 wm.com |
Homes |
| Fremont | Republic Services 510-657-3500 republicservices.com/fremont |
Homes |
| Hayward | Tri-CED 510-471-3850 tri-ced.org/ |
Homes |
| Livermore | Livermore Sanitation 925-449-7300 livermoresanitation.com |
Homes |
| Newark | Republic Services 510-657-3500 republicservices.com/newark |
Homes |
| Oakland |
California Waste Solutions |
Homes and apartments |
| Piedmont | Richmond Sanitary Service 800-320-8077 republicservices.com//piedmont-ca |
Not available |
| Pleasanton | Pleasanton Garbage Service 925-846-2042 pleasantongarbageservice.com |
Not available |
| San Leandro | ACI 510-357-7282 alamedacountyindustries.com/sanleandro |
Homes |
| San Lorenzo | Waste Management 510-613-8710 wm.com |
Homes and apartments |
| Union City | Tri-CED 510-471-3850 tri-ced.org |
Homes |
| Unincorporated | Waste Management 510-613-8710 wm.com |
Homes: motor oil only (no filters) |
Homes = single family homes, often includes apartments up to 4 units with individual cart service.
Apartments = 5+ units with shared collection service.
Oil Recycling for Boaters
In addition to the recycling centers and curbside information listed above, get your Free San Francisco Bay Clean Boating map featuring locations of marina-based pollution prevention services (used oil collection, sewage and bilge pump-out, oil absorbent distribution and collection, marine battery collection), mobile boat-to-boat services and helpful information about clean and safe boating practices.
Additional information about bilge care and prevention oil spills is available CA State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways.
Search our RE:Source guide for disposal information for Marine Flares and Marine/Boat Batteries.