In the past, the majority of used oil filters were disposed of in landfills. Today, millions of filters are being recycled. Oil filters are usually made from paper, metal and rubber. Used oil filters have value because they can be burned for fuel and the metal components can be recycled.

To dispose of used oil filters, you need to drain out the used oil thoroughly first. The oil can then be handled with the rest of your used oil (see the ECAR Used Oil Fact Sheet). If correct management procedures are followed, used oil filters can be either recycled or disposed of. However, recycling is the better choice.