Recycle Batteries, Oil, & More at O’Reilly Auto Parts

*It is required that containers are returned to customers. Environmental laws can vary by state and city and in some municipalities, some stores cannot recycle oil. It is best to contact your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store for availability and details. Used antifreeze/coolant is considered hazardous waste, so we are unable to recycle it in our stores. Most cities and counties have hazardous waste collection sites. We suggest calling your city or county administration or searching their website for hazardous waste disposal.

All new battery purchases will require a core charge that will be refunded to the customer when the old battery is returned to the store. A $2.00 nonrefundable California battery fee will also be assessed at the time of purchase on batteries sold in the state of California. Customers will have 45 days from the date of purchase to return a battery for a core charge refund.

Other restrictions may apply.

Why Should I Recycle Batteries?

The materials used to make conventional batteries are the most economical and sustainable options available because they can be continually recycled. automotive batteries are made of up to 99.3% recycled materials. Whether it’s a car battery or a battery for a lawnmower, disposing of hazardous waste through battery recycling helps prevent mercury, lead, and battery acid from seeping into the landfills where most non-recycled batteries end up. These contaminants can eventually reach the soil and contaminate streams and other nearby bodies of water. Not only does recycling batteries protect the environment, but failing to correctly dispose of a car battery can also increase the risk of a fire. Even a dead battery may still potentially hold some charge and make contact with other metals, which can cause sparking that may lead to a fire if not stored correctly. Some states, like California, have laws requiring all batteries to be recycled to further protect the environment. Properly recycling batteries at the end of their lifespan is easy at O’Reilly Auto Parts. Recycle your boat batteries, lawnmower batteries, motorcycle batteries, and of course, car batteries at an O’Reilly Auto Parts near you to help us all continue to Live Green.

Recycle Your Car Battery At O’Reilly & Get a $10 Gift Card

Not only can we recycle batteries, but recycling an undamaged* car battery can earn you a $10 O’Reilly Auto Parts gift card. Simply bring in a qualifying battery that is not a core return from a previous purchase, and trade in a dead car battery for a $10 gift card toward your next purchase at O’Reilly. It’s important to note that there is a limit of 5 batteries that can be recycled per day per customer, except in Florida and California. Florida customers may recycle 2 batteries per day, whereas California customers have a limit of 6 batteries recycled per day. Make the most of a non-working, non-core battery by bringing your old car battery to a local O’Reilly Auto Parts. We can correctly dispose of car batteries, and you can earn a $10 gift card toward your next project or repair.

*Undamaged batteries include batteries whose case is not cracked or leaking. O’Reilly team members reserve the right to refuse a damaged battery for recycling as they see fit. If your battery has been physically damaged and is leaking acid, it should be recycled at your local hazardous waste recycling facility. Motorcycle, ATV/UTV, golf cart, marine, and lawn and garden AGM or lead-acid batteries do not qualify for the $10 gift card offer. We also cannot recycle lithium batteries for marine, powersport, or automotive applications.

How Are Batteries Recycled At O’Reilly?

Our parts professionals are trained on how to dispose of batteries correctly, and follow the guidelines for careful handling, storage, and collection specified by our O’Reilly Battery Recycling Program. When batteries are recycled through our stores, we take the time and care to mark and date-label these items and place them in hazardous waste containers with lids to ensure proper, isolated storage for these types of batteries. Once batteries have been placed in the appropriate waste bucket, our parts professionals wear protective gear to inspect each battery, and take the needed steps for proper storage. After they have been stored, all batteries are transported from the stores to the nearest O’Reilly distribution center (DC). There, they will be reclaimed or recycled by an independent vendor specializing in sustainable and consistent battery recycling.

In certain states like California, customers can bring in dead household batteries to be recycled. These may include button or coin cell [watch, hearing aids, remotes] and dry-cell, alkaline or zinc-carbon [cordless tool, 9-volt, AA, AAA, C, D] batteries. In these states O’Reilly has also taken steps to ensure all types of batteries can be disposed of properly and recycled where possible. Check with your O’Reilly store to see if they are equipped to recycle household batteries.

Instead of searching ‘where to recycle transmission fluid’ online, simply bring in used fluids, including motor oil, compressor oil, power steering fluid, gear oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, and oil filters to your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store. It’s as easy as bringing in an oil drip pan, drain pan, bucket, or closed container of the above listed fluids to an O’Reilly Auto Parts location close to you. Once you’re at the store, we only ask that you fill out some information, including your name, address, and the amount and type of fluid you’ll be recycling. Once this is completed, our parts professionals will take your fluid to the waste collection container at the back of the store, drain your container, and return it to you. Bringing your used fluids to O’Reilly helps ensure you’re taking the right steps to practice responsible waste management and minimize environmental impact.

Why Should I Recycle Fluids & Oil Filters?

The proper disposal of hazardous waste is vital to the health of the environment, and every action you take to recycle fluids and oil filters can help prevent harmful chemicals from affecting public and ecological health. Used automotive fluids left over from repairs, maintenance, or system flushes contain harmful chemicals. Not only can these seep into landfills and the ground, but they can eventually reach and contaminate fresh water sources.

Used oil filters can contain up to 10 ounces of oil, even once they’ve been completely drained. Recycling oil filters is an easy way to protect the environment, and recycling the steel and hazardous materials that make up an oil filter can provide a new life for these components. This also prevents used oil from contaminating water sources and soil or harming wildlife. Recycling used oil filters not only keeps used oil from going to waste in a landfill, but also allows for the filter’s steel to be repurposed. It’s important to never pour automotive fluids down the drain or throw them into the trash since it can allow hazardous waste to negatively affect the environment.

How Does O’Reilly Recycle Fluids & Filters?

Recyclable automotive lubricants like motor oil, gear oil, and more, are placed in our oil recovery tank or a dedicated bucket that is located in all stores. Our recycled oil filters are diligently placed in dedicated oil filter drums in-store. This recycling process is repeated using clean buckets, and once a store accumulates an appropriate amount of recyclable waste, it is transported by an authorized waste hauler for recycling. Find an O’Reilly Auto Parts store near you and ask about our FREE fluid and oil filter recycling so you can get the job done right and dispose of waste responsibly.

How Does O’Reilly Recycle Other Items?

We take recycling seriously, and our Retail Waste Bucket Program helps us make the most of recycling items other than oil and batteries. We first identify recyclable materials and sort them into five colored buckets to ensure that materials such as alkaline batteries, acidic materials, flammables, and aerosols are safely stored. Our trained parts professionals then confirm the appropriate waste container and sort recyclables depending on their respective categories. Any leaking recyclables are double-bagged and placed into a labeled bucket that is surrounded with absorbent materials to prevent chemicals from seeping into the ground or entering the air. Once the items are stored in the appropriate bucket, dated, and labeled by a team member, the lid is secured and the bucket is stored until it can be delivered to the appropriate recycling facility.

What Can’t O’Reilly Recycle & What Should I Do With It?*

Because of our commitment to Living Green, there are certain items we can’t recycle — like antifreeze, insecticides, brake fluid, fuels, or electronic waste — which will need to be disposed of at a hazardous waste recycling facility near you. Even though our parts professionals at O’Reilly Auto Parts cannot dispose of antifreeze, bleach, solvents, paint or varnishes, computers, or brake fluid, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure they are practicing proper fluid disposal and recycling practices. We also cannot accept any recyclables that have been contaminated with antifreeze, fuel, or other non-recyclables. If you need to dispose of any of the items that we cannot recycle, you can also use this link to find a hazardous waste center near you.

*Our team members reserve the right to discretion of the chemical being recycled, and non-recyclables or contaminated recyclables may be returned to the customer for appropriate disposal.

Recycle Your Dead Car Battery for FREE & Get A $10 Gift Card at O’Reilly Auto Parts

Instead of searching online for how to recycle batteries or recycle batteries near me, simply bring a car battery to an O’Reilly location and let the parts professionals take care of the rest. You can even get a $10 O’Reilly gift card for your used battery. Need to recycle car fluids from a system flush, repair, maintenance or replacement? O’Reilly Auto Parts has FREE fluid recycling to help you complete repairs while Living Green. Find an O’Reilly Auto Parts location near you, and enjoy our free store services and the peace of mind that comes with performing sustainable automotive repairs.

O’Reilly Auto Parts’ FREE Store Services

Along with free fluid recycling and battery recycling, O’Reilly Auto Parts also provides several other free store services, including free Check Engine light testing, wiper blade installation, headlight bulb installation, battery testing, and starter and alternator testing. Stop by a local O’Reilly Auto Parts store and chat with one of our knowledgeable parts professionals to learn more about our free store services.