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Home > Programs > Bureau of Environmental Protection > Office of Technical and Customer Assistance > Used Oil Recycling Program


Where Can I Recycle Used Oil

Used Oil, Mercury Containing Lamp Recycling Vendors, Rechargeable Battery and Thermostat Recyclers
 
Used Oil Recycling Program - Give Your Oil a Fresh Start

WHY SHOULD I RECYCLE USED OIL? PUT IT THIS WAY - IT'S BETTER THAN DRINKING IT!

Used motor oil is a large source of the pollution in our state's waterways. Every year, Rhode Island do-it-yourselfers discard an estimated 1.4 million gallons. Much of this goes down storm drains, on the ground (sometimes to kill weeds) or into a trashcan and then to a landfill. If it's disposed of in any of these ways it could contaminate ground or surface waters--used motor oil contains lead and other toxic substances.

Here's what happens when oil and water mix:
  • One quart of oil will foul the taste of 250,000 gallons of water.


  • One pint of oil can create an acre-sized slick on surface water.


  • Oil kills fish and other aquatic life. It can even be carried into our food.


  • Oil poured down the drain can kill the bacteria needed to break down human wastes in the sewage treatment plant or in your septic system.


  • Oil poured on the ground can poison neighboring wells.
THROWING AWAY USED OIL IS ALSO A WASTE

You have an oil well in your car! Oil never wears out; it just gets dirty! Recycling cleans the oil to be used again. Recycling oil saves a valuable resource, and helps cut down our reliance on overseas suppliers. Recycled oil is as good a lubricant as new oil. Or it can be burned as fuel to produce heat or electricity - it's as good as coal, and cleaner, too!

One gallon of used motor oil will produce more than one half-gallon of clean motor oil. It takes 42 gallons of crude oil to produce the same amount.

Since the program began in 1988, Rhode Island do-it-yourselfers have turned in over a million and a half gallons of used motor oil. That's quite a gusher for a state that's so much smaller than Texas!

HOW CAN I RECYCLE USED OIL?

Recycling used oil is as easy as 1-2-3.

  1. Drain used oil into a suitable container with a tight-fitting cap, such as a thoroughly rinsed, heavy, plastic jug, which can be used over and over. Note: Never mix used motor oil with any other liquids, such as: antifreeze, gasoline, paint thinner, solvents, cooking oil, or water!
  2. Take the used oil to the Oil Recycling Facility in your community. Deposits are limited to five gallons.
  3. The used oil will be picked up for refining or reprocessing.
Where Can I Recycle Used Oil

  • Barrington - Public Works, 84 Upland Way. 247-1907.
  • Bristol - Landfill, Minturn Road. 253-4100.
  • Burrillville - Public Works, 65 Union Avenue, Harrisville. 568-4440.
  • Central Falls - Public Works Garage, 53 River Street. 727-7466.
  • Charlestown - Collection Center, Sand Hill Road. 364-1220.
  • Coventry - Public Works, 1670 Flat River Road. 822-9110.
  • Cranston - Public Works, 929 Phenix Avenue. 461-1000, ext. 3175.
  • Cumberland - Public Works, Kent St. Garage, Blackstone Street. 723-7251.
  • East Greenwich - Residents must get permits at Town Hall (886-8665). Transfer Station, Crompton Avenue.
  • East Providence - Public Works Garage, 60 Commercial Way. 435-7710.
  • Exeter - Transfer Station, Route 102, Ten Rod Road. 295-0392.
  • Foster - Highway Garage, Foster Center Road. 392-9204.
  • Glocester - Two sites, 568-5540. Transfer Station, 121 Chestnut Hill Road and the Highway Garage, 85 Chestnut Hill Road.
  • Hopkinton/Westerly - Transfer Station, Westerly-Bradford Road. 348-2557.
  • Jamestown - Transfer Station, 1218 North Main Road. 423-1067.
  • Johnston - State Central Landfill, 65 Shun Pike, Johnston - Open to all state residents, 10 gallon maximum. 942-1430.
  • Lincoln - Public Works Garage, Old River Road. 333-8424.
  • Little Compton - Transfer Station, Colebrook Road. 635-4529.
  • Middletown - Transfer Station, Burma Rd. 846-0019.
  • Narragansett/South Kingstown - Transfer Station, 163 Rose Hill Rd. Peace Dale. 783-4554.
  • New Shoreham - Transfer Station, West Beach Rd. 466-3234.
  • Newport - Public Works, 70 Halsey Street. 849-2380.
  • North Kingstown - Transfer Station, 601 Devils Foot Road. 295-4766, Ext. 224.
  • North Providence - Public Works, 2 Mafalda Street. 233-1440.
  • North Smithfield - Public Works, 281 Quaker Highway. 762-0541.
  • Pawtucket - Transfer Station, Grotto Street. 728-0500, Ext 293.
  • Portsmouth - Transfer Station, Hedley Street. 683-4419.
  • Providence - Public Works Garage, 22 Ernest Street. 467-7950
  • Richmond - Transfer Station, 51 Buttonwoods Road. 539-8474.
  • Scituate - Public Works, Trimtown Road. 647-3366.
  • Smithfield - Public Works, 3 Spragueville Road. 233-1034.
  • South Kingstown/Narragansett - Transfer Station, 163 Rose Hill Road, Peacedale. 783-4554.
  • State Central Landfill - 65 Shun Pike, Johnston - Open to all state residents, 10 gallon maximum. 942-1430.
  • Tiverton - Public Works, 50 Industrial Way. 625-6760.
  • Warren - Public Works Highway Garage, Birch Swamp Road. 245-3910.
  • Warwick - Public Works, 925 Sandy Lane. 738-2000, ext. 6513.
  • West Greenwich - Transfer Station, Bates Trail. 397-6110.
  • West Warwick - Public Works, 10 Junior Street. 822-9225.
  • Westerly/Hopkinton - Transfer Station, Westerly-Bradford Road. 348-2517.
Need More Information? Contact DEM at (40l) 222-4700, Ext. 4412.
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer
rev. 10/29/07