Can You Really Dispose of Used Motor Oil at Walmart? Find Out Here!

Changing your motor oil yourself can save you money, but can you just take the used oil to a place like Walmart?

An oil change is a fairly simple bit of maintenance that applies to cars, trucks, motorhomes, and tow vehicles. The more difficult task seems to be finding a place to dispose of the oil.

You can’t just get rid of the motor oil anywhere, so what do you do with it? Can you take it to a place like Walmart, which not only sells oil but often has its own auto care center?

Why Can’t I Dispose of Motor Oil Just Anywhere?

Motor oil is an environmental hazard, so we want to find out if Walmart would make it easy for us to dispose of our used oil. It can be dangerous to humans, plants, and animals alike.

Therefore, you can’t just throw it away anywhere. It would be best if you disposed of it properly. It’s also insoluble, which means it can stick to things and degrade slowly.

Even a little oil can get into waterways and pollute drinking water with toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

Why Must Motor Oil Be Recycled?

You must recycle used motor oil because it doesn’t break down or wear out. It gets dirtier and dirtier and harms everything from humans to wildlife to plants. Recycling used motor oil saves a valuable resource.

It takes less energy to re-refine used oil than to refine new oil from crude, which means we use fewer finite natural resources.

Will Walmart Take My Used Oil?

Yes, Walmart will take used motor oil. However, it must be a Walmart with an automotive center.

You can take up to five gallons of motor oil to Walmart per person per day. It doesn’t have to be oil that you purchased at Walmart, either.

They don’t accept other fluids, such as transmission or power steering fluid, so ensure the oil isn’t contaminated with different fluids. Walmart also accepts used oil filters.

How Much Does It Cost to Dispose of Motor Oil at Walmart?

There’s no charge to dispose of used motor oil or oil filters at Walmart. You must simply adhere to the five gallons per person per day rule and ensure the oil isn’t contaminated with other fluids.

What Does Walmart Do with Old Oil?

When you bring your used motor oil to Walmart for disposal, they don’t just toss it out. Walmart follows strict environmental protocols to ensure that used oil is handled responsibly. After collection, the used oil is sent to certified recycling facilities. There, the oil is filtered, cleaned, and re-refined to remove contaminants, allowing it to be repurposed for various industrial uses or even turned back into motor oil.

This process not only prevents harmful oil from contaminating soil and water but also contributes to reducing waste by giving the oil a second life. By choosing to dispose of your used oil at Walmart, you’re helping support environmentally friendly practices that keep hazardous materials out of landfills and our ecosystems.

What Other Places Take Used Oil?

Many auto parts stores, such as AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, and Pep Boys, also accept used motor oil.

There’s also a handy website called Earth911.com, where you can search by zip code for locations to recycle motor oil, as well as other recyclable materials.

Recycling Responsibly: Doing Your Part for the Environment

Recycling used motor oil is just common sense. If we don’t recycle, we’ll eventually run out of finite resources like crude oil.

This also connects to one of the golden rules of RVing: Leave no trace.

Dumping your oil irresponsibly leaves a massive stain on the environment. Next time you change your motor oil, bring it to a Walmart. It’s easy and free.