Oil Filter Recycling Offered at Twelve Municipal Drop-off Sites

Residents can now bring their used oil filters along with motor oil and antifreeze for recycling to twelve municipal sites in the county.

The twelve communities offering this service at their recycling drop off sites are the cities of Brookfield, Delafield, New Berlin, Pewaukee and Waukesha; the towns of Lisbon, Ottawa and Summit; and the villages of Elm Grove, Hartland, Pewaukee and Sussex.

Used motor oil has been banned from disposal in landfills since 1991. However, state statistics show that thousands of gallons of oil go into landfills each year from the residue in used oil filters. Waukesha County has taken a positive step in reducing the amount of oil going into landfills and potentially into water supplies by coordinating oil filter recycling service for twelve municipal drop-off sites.

Last year, after surveying all municipalities with motor oil recycling collection sites to determine interest in a coordinated bid, the county issued a request for bids to add collection of used oil filters and antifreeze along with motor oil.

“Recently, state legislation was proposed to ban the disposal of used oil filters in landfills due to pollution concerns,” stated Karen Fiedler, County Solid Waste Supervisor. “With this program we hope to assist municipalities and residents in advance of any state requirements and save an estimated 2,300 gallons of oil contained in 65,000 used oil filters. OSI Environmental won the bid by meeting all requirements for recycling used oil, antifreeze, and oil filters, plus they are paying municipalities for the used oil,” Fiedler added.

For more recycling information and the location of the local drop off sites, visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling or call 262-896-8300.