Properly dispose of auto waste
Keeping your car up and running can be a full-time job — in fact, it is for thousands of mechanics and automotive technicians across the state.
But what happens to the old oil, tires, antifreeze and other components that let your vehicle kick into gear at the turn of a key?
The answer might be simpler than you think — which is good news for people who like to tinker on their own and do routine maintenance like changing oil, rotating tires, and doing other upkeep that keeps their cars running in tiptop shape.
The most important thing, environmental regulators say, is to do the right thing with your old automotive waste after you've switched it out for new components.
Vehicle batteriesPeople and businesses around Butler County already routinely recycle at least one automotive component that needs to be disposed of properly — car batteries, which contain lead and acid and shouldn't be left laying around or thrown in with households' regular trash collection.According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which regulates recycling throughout the commonwealth, 302.43 tons of lead-acid batteries, like the one that starts your car each morning, were recycled in 2014, the last year for which data is available.In fact, businesses that sell automotive batteries are required by law to take them back. People who are replacing or recycling the batteries should call the business first to get takeback requirements.
Motor oil, fluidsIt's just as important to find the proper places to dispose of other automotive items like old antifreeze, transmission fluid and other solid and liquid components that keep engines running.Many garages and fast-lube businesses also take used motor oil for recycling or fuel in waste-oil heaters used in their garages.Call your nearest garage or auto parts dealer to see if they take used motor oil and, if so, how much they will accept.The same is true for fluids like antifreeze and transmission fluid.
TiresThe final hard-to-recycle item that car owners must deal with on a semi-routine basis is used tires — there are a variety of public and private options for people looking to unload their used rubber after it's outlived its useful life.Butler County Recycling and Waste Management hold special tire collections periodically, so contact the department for information about the next collection event.In addition, many tire dealers and automotive garages will take small quantities of tires for a recycling fee. People should call first to get specifics on how much the businesses will take and what the charges will be when they drop off the used tires.
Hazardous waste collectionsFor those who want to participate in larger collection efforts, county officials sponsor a monthly hazardous waste and electronics collection that requires people to make an appointment to participate.Information for those events can be found online at www.co.butler.pa.us/recycling-waste-management. The program is run through the Board of Butler County Commissioners and funded, in part, by a grant from DEP.Individual municipalities also will host collection events that include automotive components, other household chemicals and electronics. For example, Butler Township hosts periodic collections at the ECS&R facility at 129 Ash Stop Road, Evans City.“We've had overwhelming success,” said township manager Ed Kirkwood. “It's amazing how many people actually sign up to participate in this program.”
Another optionIf the county-run pickups or those hosted by your municipality don't fit your schedule, there are also a variety of private services that can help schedule a time for the pickup or drop-off of household hazardous waste.For more information and to contact those services, you can visit the website of the Southwestern PA Household Hazardous Waste Task Force at swpahhw.org.You can also call the Butler County Department of Recycling and Waste Management at 724-284-5305 or check www.recyclebutler.us for more information.
What not to doWhat you absolutely shouldn't do, environmental regulators say, is try to dispose of the fluids and materials yourself. Putting things like motor oil, antifreeze or old gasoline down the drain or directly into the soil can cause contamination and can pose a threat to municipal stormwater and sewage systems as well.“Too often folks illegally dump (automotive waste) in a field or pitch it into a ditch,” said DEP spokesman Neil Shader. “It's important for the public to know the damage these kinds of improper disposals cause, and the danger it poses.”
