Does AutoZone Take Used Oil For Free? (You´ll Be Surprised!)


Does AutoZone Take Used Oil For Free

Have you ever asked yourself or your friend if AutoZone takes used oil for free? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

If you own a car, then eventually, you will need to find a way to get rid of your used motor oil. This can be a difficult task to do without harming the environment, and you may have wondered if your local AutoZone will take the used oil for you.

So, does AutoZone take used oil? Yes, AutoZone has a totally free oil recycling program which you can take part in by visiting any of their participating stores. Instead of simply throwing the oil away, you can collect it in a safe container and drop it off at the AutoZone for repurposing.

The rest of this article will discuss AutoZone’s oil recycling program, what exactly they do with the used oil, and why you should recycle your oil.

Does AutoZone take used oil for free?

Yes, AutoZone’s Oil Care recycling program is a totally free program where customers can drop off their used motor oil at no charge.

All you have to do is take the oil to one of AutoZone’s participating drop off locations in a safe, leak-proof container.

From there, you no longer have to worry about the oil! This program is convenient and simple for customers, and you can feel good about disposing of your used oil without harming the environment by simply throwing it away.

How does AutoZone use the old oil?

Used oil is actually one of the most common household items to be disposed of in America. The good thing is, there are tons of ways that used oil is able to be of continued use, even after it has finished serving its purpose in your car!

AutoZone is a member of the Recycling Partnership. This is made up of all of the major North American auto parts retailers who participate in recycling used oil and other products, such as oil filters.

Every year, the Recycling Partnership keeps more than four million gallons of oil out of landfills.

So, when you drop off your used oil at your local AutoZone, you can rest assured that the used oil will be used for a new purpose through recycling.

Read also: Can I Dispose of Used Motor Oil at Walmart? (The Truth!)

How is the used oil recycled?

There are many things that recycled oil can be used for once you drop it off at AutoZone! Here are some examples of things it can be used for:

  • Industrial fuel for delivery trucks
  • It can be processed into different products, including things like pet food
  • It can be turned into different fluid products such as gear lube and transmission fluid
  • It can be used as grease and fluid for brakes and other car parts
  • It can be used as a source of fuel for power plants

…and much, much more!

How can I give my used oil to my local AutoZone?

To give your used oil to AutoZone, there are three major steps the company advises you to follow. First, you should contain the oil.

This is going to involve making sure that you safely capture all of the oil you are planning to get rid of without spilling it.

You should use a large plastic tarp beneath your work area to reduce the chance of spillage. Then, put a safe container beneath your engine to catch the oil when it drains. AutoZone advises using a drip pan that comes with a spout.

Next, you should make sure to empty the oil filter. You can puncture a small hole in the filter dome and let it drain into the drip pan with the rest of the oil.

Then, seal the filter in a secure container, such as a plastic bag.

Lastly, you can transfer your oil from the drip pan into a secure container for transportation to AutoZone. Do not use any random containers you happen to have lying around your house—you must use a container made for the purpose.

If you still have the original container the oil came in, that is your best bet.

Finally, you can take the used oil to AutoZone for free recycling! Make sure to call the location first to make sure that they are a participating location in the recycling program.

Read also: Who Makes Kirkland Diesel Oil? (15W-40 Motor Oil)

Is there a limit to how much used oil I can give to AutoZone?

Yes, there is a limit to how much used oil you can give to AutoZone. You are allowed to recycle as many as five gallons of oil during each visit, and up to twenty-five gallons each year.

However, you can also bring used oil filters, batteries, and tires for recycling! How cool is that?

Why should I recycle my used oil?

Ultimately, you should recycle your used oil because disposing of it in other ways can be unsafe and harm the environment.

It is an insoluble material which contains many toxic chemicals and heavy metals. This means that it takes a very long time to go away, and it poisons everything it touches.

Motor oil is also very sticky, and can easily stick like glue to things like birds’ feathers, preventing them from flying.

Other animals and even humans may also be at risk if they get into contaminated water. And contaminated water can harm more than just animals.

In fact, contaminated waterways can even result in the pollution of drinking water. We certainly would not want to be drinking water which contains used motor oil!

Recycling your oil is an easy way for you to contribute to keeping our Earth safe and healthy—and with such a simple way to recycle your oil as taking it to your local AutoZone, then there is really no reason why you shouldn’t do it!

Conclusion

So, does AutoZone take used oil for free? Yes, they do! Through their Oil Care recycling program, AutoZone will take up to five gallons of used oil per day and twenty-five gallons of used oil per year per customer.

They will then recycle this oil to be repurposed for a number of different things, including other fluids for cars and even other products like pet food.

Recycling your oil is great for the environment, and it is an excellent and convenient way for you to help protect our Earth while also getting toxic waste off your hands. It’s a win-win situation!


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References

https://www.autozone.com/diy/motor-oil/how-to-recycle-motor-oil

https://www.epa.gov/recycle/managing-reusing-and-recycling-used-oil

Jeff

Jeff is an automotive technician, technical writer, and Managing Editor. He has held a lifelong passion for cars, with a particular interest in cars like the Buick Reatta. Jeff has been creating written and video content about transportation, automotive, electric cars, future vehicles as well as new, used for more than 18 years. Jeff is based in Boulder, Colorado.

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