For years, motor oil commonly was reused or discarded in ways that neither protected the environment nor conserved its resource value. In the United States alone, an estimated 200 million gallons of used motor oil are improperly disposed of by being dumped on the ground, tossed in the trash (ending up in landfills), and poured down storm sewers and drains. Just one gallon of used oil has the potential to contaminate up to one million gallons of drinking water. Additionally, used oil that ends up in the country's rivers, lakes, and streams can threaten aquatic life.

If all of the used oil that is improperly disposed of were properly managed, the United States could save thousands of barrels of oil each day. Used oil that is properly handled can be re-refined into lubricants, processed into fuel oils, and used as raw materials for the refining and petrochemical industries.

Remember: environmental quality is everybody's business, and everyone can help. Join SpeeDee and developing smart recycling habits. Recycling saves money, and it protects our environment. So become a part of the solution, recycle your used motor oil and oil filters, along with newspaper, glass, metals, plastic, yard trimmings, and other materials.