New law keeps oil filters and absorbents out of landfills

Beginning January 1, 2011 used automotive engine oil filters and oil absorbent materials are banned from Wisconsin landfills.

No individual or group is exempt. The ban applies to everyone in the state including individuals, farmers, businesses, commercial or industrial facilities and other organizations.

The new law, 2009 Wisconsin Act 86 [exit DNR] was passed in 2009 to promote oil recycling and protect the environment.

Used oil is a valuable, reusable resource

The ban on landfilling used automotive oil filters and oil absorbents is intended to keep these materials out of Wisconsin landfills. Recycling or properly managing used oil filters and absorbents has many environmental benefits.

• Recycling used oil and oil filters preserves valuable resources. Both oil filters and oil absorbents contain oil that can be extracted and reused. Motor oil does not wear out -- it just gets dirty -- so recycling reduces the need for new oil. Oil filters have steel components that can also be recycled.
• Recycling or properly managing used oil filters and absorbents reduces pollution associated with oil. Spilled oil is one of the largest sources of oil pollution in lakes, streams and rivers. Oil contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals that can pollute surface water or groundwater and endanger human and environmental health.

Automotive engine oil filters

The ban specifically covers filters from motor vehicles, including:

• cars
• trucks
• buses
• motorcycles
• snowmobiles
• forklifts
• tractors
• ATVs and UTVs

Other sources not covered by ban

Although oil filters from other sources like hydraulic systems and other machinery are not covered under this ban, we encourage them to be recycled as well.

The ban includes all materials used to absorb any type of oil

All types of materials used to absorb or contain waste oil are covered under the ban, including:

• granular kitty litter-type absorbents
• oil-dry cloths
• rags
• wipes
• paper toweling
• absorbent pillows, pads and socks

An exception is made in the ban to allow the disposal of up to one gallon of oil absorbent materials from a non-routine spill.

A gallon of material is the amount that would fit inside a dry gallon container.

Non-routine spills may include oil that is released when a seal is broken or when oil is accidentally spilled. Routine spills may include oil that leaks continually while a machine is operating, or oil that leaks each time a frequently repeated operation occurs (such as dismantling a car).

Managing and Recycling

How do I handle my materials?

The ban on disposing of used automotive engine oil filters and most used oil absorbents in Wisconsin landfills goes into effect January 1, 2011. After that date, materials can be managed in one of several ways:

Used oil filters

• Recycle: Many businesses that perform oil changes or sell oil and oil filters will accept used filters from do-it-yourselfers. In addition, some communities allow used oil and oil filters to be collected at their waste transfer stations or at specific collection sites. Contact your local recycling program for more information.
  
  Several recyclers across the state also accept used oil filters for recycling. To find recycling options in your area, see the Wisconsin Recycling Markets Directory [exit DNR], select the "Motor Vehicle Items" category, and select oil filters.
• Use as a fuel supplement in an approved municipal solid waste combustor.

Used oil absorbent materials

• Recycle: Some companies that supply clean absorbents will accept those absorbents after they have been used. To find recycling options in your area, see the Wisconsin Recycling Markets Directory [exit DNR], select the "Other Materials" category, and select oil absorbents.
• Take to a DNR-approved biopile at a landfill.
• Use as a fuel supplement in an approved municipal solid waste combustor.
• Dispose of at a landfill if less than one gallon absorbent material from a non-routine spill.
• Cloth absorbents should be reused as long as possible and may be sent to a landfill after being cleaned to established industry standards to remove the oil.

Fast facts

• Each year, Wisconsinites throw away an estimated 187,000 gallons of oil in used oil filters and 1.6 million gallons of oil in oil absorbents.
• If the approximately 9 million oil filters that now go to Wisconsin landfills were recycled instead, over 4.5 million pounds of steel would re-enter the marketplace annually.
• It takes 42 gallons of crude oil, but only one gallon of used oil to produce 2.5 quarts of new, high-quality lubricating oil.
• A single gallon of used oil, if improperly managed, has the potential to contaminate up to one million gallons of drinking water.

Additional resources

The DNR has developed several materials to help explain Act 86. See the following resources for more information.

• How Do I Handle My Waste: Used Oil Filters and Absorbents
• WA1503 - Used Oil and Absorbents Landfill Ban Questions and Answers [PDF 60Kb]
• WA233 - Used Oil Management [PDF 101Kb]
• 2009 Wisconsin Act 86 [exit DNR]
• Fact Sheet - Used Oil Filters & Absorbents Landfill Ban [PDF 115Kb]
• Vendor Checklist: selecting a used oil filter or absorbents recycler [PDF 13Kb]
• Used Oil Filters and Absorbents PowerPoint presentation (PDF version). For a PowerPoint version of this presentation, please contact Jack Connelly or Dan Fields.
• List of Wisconsin Landfills with Biopiles [PDF 13Kb].