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April, 2007

Disposing Used Oil in North Carolina

Q. I staff the North Carolina Clean Water Education Partnership, and we promote recycling used motor oil.  I am researching the best ways for the general public to recycle their used motor oil, and want to confirm that auto shops are required (?) to accept used oil from the general public so long as it is just used oil.  Can you refer me to any NC or federal laws regarding the acceptance and recycling of used motor oil from the general public?  We are of course also providing info to tell people how to do this properly to help with concerns regarding contaminants.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

www.NCcleanwater.org

A. Our members came up with the following link.
Please see: http://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_130a/gs_130a-309.20.html

However, I am not sure if it has been updated at all.  According to this statute, it appears that auto shops are encouraged to voluntarily accept used oil.  A cursory Google search came up with much the same assessment.