What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Old Lawn Mower Oil At The End Of The Season?

When it's the end of the mowing season, you need to take care of your maintenance chores thoroughly and responsibly. That includes learning how to easily change the oil in your lawn mower on your own. Most lawn mower owners change the oil in their machines once every spring or summer, or at least every 50 hours of operation. But after you've dumped the old oil and replaced it with new, what should you do with it?

It's important that you know where to go to get rid of used oil instead of waiting to change it. Properly maintaining your machine can help avoid accidental damage to your lawn mower that requires extensive repairs to fix. Thankfully, disposing of old lawn mower oil at the end of the season is easier than you might realize. Many municipalities in the U.S. offer some type of waste collection service, such as events for residents to bring in all their household hazardous waste.

Safely disposing of old lawn mower oil is important because it is categorized as a hazardous waste, which means you can't just throw it in the trash or dump it out in your yard. On its own, lawn mower oil is dangerous, but used oil contains contaminants that can be harmful to the environment. Plus, when oil is responsibly disposed of, it typically gets recycled into lubricant or other materials.

When you are ready to get rid of old oil from the mower, make sure to have a secure plastic container to store it in. The best type to use is the original oil container or one made out of polyethylene. Old lawn mower oil should never be mixed with any other type of liquid or hazardous waste, even your mower's hydraulic fluid. Mixing waste together is dangerous and prevents it from being recycled and reused. Until you can drop it off at a local recycling site, store the container in a cool, dry location away from pets and children.

The oil used in lawn mowers is a type of motor oil, which means it can be taken to any place that accepts old automotive oil. If you know the right way to dispose of motor oil when cleaning out your garage, you also have a good idea of how to get rid of your lawn mower oil. Places like auto parts stores and hardware stores will accept various types of used oil, including AutoZone and Advanced Auto Parts. You can always check their website before bringing in any waste products or call ahead to verify. Just remember to place the mower oil in a secure container to avoid a messy trip.