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Automotive Fluids
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Minnesota law prohibits throwing away motor oil, oil filters, and brake, power steering, and transmission fluids. Never put any of these items in the garbage, or pour any of the fluids in your garbage, in a household drain, on the ground, into water, or into a sewer or storm drain. Improper disposal can contaminate our environment and hurt our families.

Reduction Tips

trafficYou can reduce pollution and waste from automotive fluids with these tips:
  • Maintain your car regularly and fix any fluid leaks.
  • Carpool or take the bus to work or school - if not daily, try it once or twice a week.
  • Drive a fuel efficient vehicle.
  • Walk or ride your bike when possible.

Disposal Information

Automotive fluids and oil filters are collected for proper disposal at many automotive service centers and at your county household hazardous waste collection sites. Contact your local automotive service center for services, hours, and fees before taking items there. Some municipalities also collect motor oil, oil filters and antifreeze. Contact your city for more information.

Most automotive fluids are flammable or combustible. Improper storage or disposal could cause serious injury. Follow these tips for safe storage and disposal of automotive fluids:


  • Don't mix fluids - mixing fluids can make them more expensive to recycle. Store each fluid separately in a sealed, labeled container. If fluids were mixed for a specific purpose, label the container with its contents.
  • Leave some air space in the container in case the fluid expands.
  • Use a clean container- any residue left in a container may contaminate the automotive fluid.
  • Store antifreeze out of reach of children and pets - they may be attracted to the sweet taste.

See the chart below for additional information on specific automotive fluids:

  • Antifreeze

    DESCRIPTION:
    Contains toxic ingredients (such as ethylene or propylene glycol) and becomes even more toxic after use in your car
    DISPOSAL:
    Take to your local auomotive service center or your county household hazardous waste collection site.

  • Fuels

    DESCRIPTION:
    Gasoline, diesel, gasoline/oil mixtures. Fuels used in cars, boats, lawn mowers, snow blowers and other equipment. Use up fuels.
    DISPOSAL:
    Use up fuels when possible. Take leftover fuels to your county household hazardous waste collection site.

  • Motor Oil and Filters

    DESCRIPTION:
    Used motor oil can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
    DISPOSAL:
    Do not mix motor oil with other fluids. Take used motor oil to your local automotive service center (Minnesota State law requires all outlets that sell motor oil to provide a collection tank for homeowner's oil or post the closest free collection site, a list of locations or other resources) or your county household hazardous waste collection site for recycling.

  • Oil Filters

    DESCRIPTION:
    Always thoroughly drain used oil filters before recycling.
    DISPOSAL:
    Take used oil filters to your local automotive service center (Minnesota State law requires all outlets that sell oil filters to provide a collection tank for homeowner's oil filters or post the closest free collection site, a list of locations or other resources.) or your county household hazardous waste collection site for recycling.

  • Other fluids

    DESCRIPTION:
    Brake, power steering, transmission fluids, etc.
    DISPOSAL:
    Take to your county household hazardous waste collection site.

 

 

 

Contact your county for more information on recycling and proper disposal of automotive fluids.