Motor Oil Recycling: Motor oil is a serious environmental hazard if not properly collected and recycled. Prevent waste first! - Change motor oil every 7,500 miles, which meets auto warranty standards (rather than the 3,000 miles often recommended by service centers). Recycling the motor oil from one oil change protects a million gallons of drinking water - or a year's supply for 50 people. Reprocessing one gallon of used motor oil and burning it as fuel generates enough electricity to power everything in your home for a day. Put used motor oil in securely closed 1-gallon milk jugs and take them to a location equipped to collect and recycle motor oil. Motor Oil Recycling Sites by Zip Code. Print This Page