Did you know 1 quart of motor oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water?  Every year in the U.S., millions of gallons of used motor oil, chemicals, and other wastes are disposed of illegally – down a storm drain or in the trash.  Unlike sewage, stormwater is not treated.  Storm drains empty directly into local streams and eventually reach the Chesapeake Bay.  Please do your part to keep our waterways healthy.  Recycle used motor oil at the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority’s Ivy location or return it to where you bought it.

Properly Disposing of Used Motor Oil

1. If you change the oil in your car or lawn mower at home, please dispose of the oil properly. Most service centers and garages will recycle used motor oil. You can find information about recycling used motor oil and other hazardous waste on the Rivanna solid Waste Authority's Recycling information page.  

2. Pouring motor oil down a storm drain will send it directly into a stream or river where it will contaminate the drinking water supply, make it unfit for recreational uses such as swimming and fishing, and will harm fish and other aquatic life.  

3. Disposing of oil by pouring it on the ground can result in contamination of ground water, making the water in local wells dangerous to drink and  unfit for other household purposes.