Lakewood residents who change their own car's motor oil can pick up a 15-quart oil collection kit at City Hall’s Public Works counter for free. It also includes a wide-mouth plastic funnel, a shop rag and a cardboard “creeper mat” to help deal with drips or spillage under your car.
When you dispose of your own oil filter, be sure to let it drain completely (about 24 hours) before recycling it.
The reusable oil collection containers have a screw top and carrying handle that make the job of transporting your used oil to a recycling center easy and spill free.
There are six California certified oil collection centers conveniently located for Lakewood residents:
Brake fluid, transmission fluid and other auto chemicals must be drained into separate containers and also kept out of gutters and storm drains -- and out of the backyard or the landfill, where dumped chemicals can migrate into the underground aquifers that supply local drinking water.
Containers of used fluids can be saved for routinely scheduled household hazardous waste collection events.
Crankcase oil accounts for 40 percent of total oil pollution in California waterways and harbors.
Using the kits keeps used oil out of the ground and groundwater, storm drains and ocean.
Every gallon of used motor oil that's improperly disposed of can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water and one pint of oil can produce a slick across water nearly one acre in size. Concentrations of just 50 to 100 parts-per-million of used oil can foul sewage treatment processes.
Call 562-866-9771, extension 2500
Dispose of hazardous household waste properly at local recycling opportunities.
Check Lakewood's recycling events calendar