Used Oil

Recycle Used OilDid you know that used motor oil never wears out? It just gets dirty and can be recycled, cleaned, and used again. Recycling used motor oil conserves a natural resource (oil) and is good for the environment too! Motor oil poured onto the ground or into storm drains, or tossed into trash cans (even in a sealed container) can contaminate and pollute the soil, groundwater, streams, and rivers (and it's illegal!).

Recycling your used motor oil reduces this pollution threat. When you take your used oil to a certified center for recycling, you are protecting the environment, conserving a valuable resource, and getting paid for it. That's a winning combination!

The 3,000 Mile Myth

Are you changing your motor oil too often? With today's new technologies, many car makers confirm automobiles can now maintain top performance with longer space between oil changes. What was the standard 3,000 miles between oil changes is now 5,000 miles or even 7,500 miles. So it makes economic and environmental sense to "check your number" and be sure you are not changing your oil too soon, creating unnecessary waste of money and resources.

Check your owner's manual, or simply visit the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) Check Your Number Page to easily find out for free the recommended time to change the oil on most vehicles made from 2000 to 2012.

More Information

If you would like information about other locations outside of Butte County that accept used oil visit the CalRecycle Used Oil Recycling Program Page.

Butte County Certified Oil Recycling Centers

  • These locations will accept your used motor oil and pay you $0.10 per quart
  • Locations with (OF) will also accept your used oil filters

Chico

  • AutoZone, 136 W East Avenue (OF)
  • AutoZone, 1843 Park Avenue
  • Chuck Patterson Toyota-Scion-Dodge, 200 East Avenue (OF)
  • Jiffy Lube, 1218 Mangrove Avenue (OF)
  • Jiffy Lube, 2452 Notre Dame Boulevard (OF)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts, 1618 Mangrove Avenue (OF)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts, 2485 Notre Dame Boulevard (OF)
  • Pep Boys Automotive Supercenters, 1555 Mangrove Avenue
  • Pick-N-Pull/ Chico #82, 397 E Park Avenue
  • Pro Lube, 2485 Notre Dame Boulevard
  • Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 1101 Marauder Street, open Friday 9 am to 1 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm

Gridley

  • AutoZone, 1636 Highway 99 (OF)
  • Household Hazardous Waste Recycling, Ord Ranch Road (OF)
  • Ord Ranch Transfer Station, Gridley (weekends only)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts, 1590 Highway 99 (OF)

Oroville

  • AutoZone, 1970 Oroville Dam Boulevard (OF)
  • Avery's Lube and Oil, 3034 Olive Highway (OF)
  • Butte County Public Works, 9 County Center Drive (OF)
  • Jiffy Lube, 1450 Oro Dam Boulevard (OF)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts, 2525 Oroville Dam Boulevard E (OF)
  • Recology, 2720 S 5th Avenue, due to COVID-19 Please call 530-533-5868 to schedule an appointment

Paradise

  • AutoZone, 7542 Skyway Road (OF)
  • Jiffy Lube, 6081 Clark Road (OF)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts, 7368 Skyway (OF)

Recycling Used Agricultural Oil

Available to Butte County farmers who need to recycle used oil or used oil filters?  Please visit one of our Agricultural Oil Recycle Centers near you. You can recycle up to four 55-gallon drums of used oil per trip.

To deposit oil, you must fill out the Waste Oil Acceptance Documentation Form (PDF) along with a copy of your California Drivers License and bring it to the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility scale house.

Here are the drop-off locations near you:

Neal Road Recycling & Waste Facility

1023 Neal Road
Paradise, CA 95969
Phone: 530-552-5705

Hours
Open 7 days a week
7 am to 3 pm

Please contact the Attendant before depositing oil.

City of Biggs Public Works Yard Site*

2865 West Biggs-Gridley Road
Biggs, CA 95917
Phone: 530-552-5705

*NO OIL FILTERS

Hours
Monday through Friday
8 am to 3 pm

Now open - does not accept oil filters.

Program Requirements

This program is strictly designed for farmers to recycle their agricultural oil. To participate in the program and protect yourself from fines, you the farmer must legally transport oil by the following requirements, otherwise up to a $250,000 fine may be assessed.

  • Oil and filters must be transported in a vehicle owned by you, and must be driven to the collection site by you or your employee
  • Oil must be transported in a drum that is non-leaking and has a sealable lid that is labeled "Waste Oil"
  • Oil filters must be transported in a container that can adequately contain the residual oil and has a sealable lid. Filters should be drained for 24 hours before disposal. We request that the filters be either punctured or crushed before depositing
  • Please plan a route to the collection center that avoids heavily residential or environmentally sensitive areas like waterways
  • It is recommended that you carry some kind of kitty litter or absorbent material and a small bucket and shovel to clean up any small spills that occur while transporting or transferring the oil
  • If you get in an accident or otherwise spill large amounts of your oil, you must report the spill to Valerie Meza, Butte County Recycling Coordinator at 530-552-5705 as well as any other appropriate agencies (Butte County Fire, CHP, etc.)