Does anyone have suggestions on how to go about properly disposing of used oil, coolant and leftover paint? Every garage I ask about bringing my old fluids in tell me they cannot accept it since they cannot be certain of what it is. I have an overstock of old fluids and more soon to come that I would like to get rid of properly. Any suggestions, namely here in Northern VA (Loudoun Co.)?

 

Used oil, drop it off at a jiffy lube.
Not sure about the rest.

 

Drop whatever the heck you want off at autozone, they have a waste oil tank in the back that you can help yourself to....

 

Many municipalities have a recycle center that will typically take oil, coolant, and batteries. Check it out locally...

-CKKrause

 

Like CKKrause said, check with your local officials too see if they have a drop off center. I know my town has one about 10 minutes away. But its for mostly dumping used motor oil, oil filters and antifreeze.

If you dont have this available, im pretty sure you can goto most chain autostores and they will take whatever you have. Sometimes they are required by law to charge you however for the recylcing fee. If you cant find anything like that, i would just then take it too a friendly garage. Ask them if they can take it for you (but again, you may have to pay the recycling fee).

Edit - A quick search on Yahoo turned this up

http://www.deq.state.va.us/recycle/usedoil.html

Perhaps they have something near you.

 

For the excess paint depending on how much you have you can pour it on excess wood or cardboard and let it dry. Once dry you can pour more and let it dry. Painted products are not considered hazardous and you can throw them out like regular thrash. Oil and coolant check your local Auto Parts store. They normally have a recycle program. Most states do not consider oil as Hazardous Material.

 

virtually every pep boys, autozone etc. I've seen accepts waste oil.

 

Ask your local government.

 

What about brake fluid? I must have gallons from bleeding brakes.

 

Look in the phone book under local government for the solid waste office. They are supposed to take care of all sorts of hazardous waste. If there is no local program, the State government solid waste program can tell you how to dispose of it.

 

I assume they will want to charge some outrageous fee to dispose of it. Years ago I tried to get rid of a 55 gallon drum of dirty motor oil that had about 5 gallons of dirty kerosene in it, they wanted $50.

 

I'm pretty sure you can just mix brake fluid and motor oil together, brake fluid is just a hydraulic oil, isn't it?

 

Well, the difference is two things. A 55 gallon drum is very different from a few quarts. Most of these places that accept waste oil, as well as garages etc, put the oil into those drums and then have it trucked away. They pay a good amount of money for that. Also, and probably more importantly, once the fluids are mixed up, they need to be seperated, and that is very expensive. Oils need to be kept with oils, collants need to be kept with coolants, etc. That way you don't need to pay for the seperation process.

 

Your state EPA will likely run hazardous waste collection centers targeted for us regular folks. I contacted them to find a drop off center located about 25 miles away in Chicago area. Great service! You don't even get out of the car and their hours are very reasonable. I take a regular flow of oil, brake fluid, etc. to them whenever it starts to pile up and I need an hour in the car to listen to music.

State gov's are tough to navigate, but be persistent and I am willing to bet you'll find a convenient arrangement near you. They usually take all the other nasty household stuff you may have. Latex paint must be allowed to dry out, then disposed of as a solid in your regular garbage.