Management of Used Oil Filters

The Problem With Improper Disposal

Improper disposal of oil and oil filters could contaminate soil, surface water, or drinking water. Used oil is banned from landfills in North Carolina. Before it is drained, an oil filter can contain one pint to a quart of used oil. After hot-draining, a filter may still contain 2 to 8 ounces of used oil. If 90 percent of the hot-drained filters from do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) are landfilled, from 2.5 million to 10 million gallons of used oil are also landfilled.

Hazardous or Non-hazardous?

All terne-plated (an alloy of tin and lead) oil filters are considered a hazardous waste because of their lead content. All other oil filters are not regulated as hazardous waste in North Carolina. Terne-plated filters are generally used in heavy duty vehicles such as transit buses and on- and off-road trucks.

To Help Prevent Pollution . . .

Perform oil changes only when necessary to minimize the quantity of oil filters generated.
Encourage the use of longer lasting synthetic oils to decrease the frequency of oil changes.
Recycle used oil filters.
Crush filters or use other means (e.g. hot-draining, pressurized air) to remove as much oil as possible before recycling or landfilling them. Approximately three times more crushed than uncrushed filters can be placed inside a 55-gallon drum.
Consider using reusable filters or by-pass filters.
Consider offering a drop-off service for DIYers to recycle their used oil filters in addition to their used oil.

The Wrong Things To Do

Do not dispose oil filters in the dumpster before they have been thoroughly drained.
Do not dispose terne-plated oil filters in the trash.

Applicable Laws

40 CFR 261.4(b)(13), codified at 15A NCAC 13A.0006 (b) Solid wastes which are not hazardous wastes. The following solid waste {is} not hazardous waste:

(13) Non terne-plated used oil filters that are not mixed with wastes listed in Subpart D of this part (40 CFR 261.3 through 261.35) if these oil filters have been gravity hot-drained by one of the following methods: (i) Puncturing the filter anti-drain back valve or the filter dome end and hot-draining; (ii) Hot-draining and crushing; (iii) Dismantling and hot-draining; or (iv) Any other equivalent hot-draining method that will remove used oil.

For More Information

This Fact Sheet is only an overview and may not contain detailed information which may apply to your situation. If you need additional information, please call one of these numbers for assistance. Hazardous Waste Section, Raleigh - 919-733-2178 Office of Waste Reduction, Raleigh - 919-715-6500

For information on vendor services, by-pass filters, or available equipment for handling and collecting used oil filters, contact the N.C. Office of Waste Reduction at 919-715-6500.

The NC Office of Waste Reduction provides free, non-regulatory technical assistance and education on methods to eliminate, reduce, or recycle wastes before they become pollutants or require disposal.

OWR-96-01. January 1996.