YESTERDAY THEY WERE SAFE? TODAY THEY ARE TOXIC?

On March 24, 1989, shortly after midnight, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling more
than 11 million gallons of crude oil. The spill was the largest in U.S. history.

Today, in California, we are missing 40 million gallons of motor oil.

Over 150 million gallons of motor oil were sold to Californians in 2004 and 58 percent of that, or 83.7 million gallons, was recycled. Experts say that between 20 and 40 percent of this oil is lost due to burn-off or spillage. That leaves 40 million gallons unaccounted.

To help recover this missing oil, the City of Vallejo and VALCORE Recycling kicked off their "Got Used Oil" campaign on May 6 at Auto Zone in Vallejo.

Volunteers from VALCORE's member group Sierra Club, took surveys and handed out information. The first 20 people surveyed received a free Oil Recycling Kit to make changing oil easier. Included in the kit were curbside used oil jugs, an oil filter bag, rubber gloves, shop towels, a bag of absorbent, funnel, oil spout, recycling information and a coupon for a $5 discount on your next oil change.

So what's the big deal? Doesn't everyone know about recycling used motor oil? Oil never wears out, it just gets dirty and can be cleaned and used again. Recycling used motor oil conserves natural resources and is good for the environment too! Motor oil poured onto the ground, into storm drains, or tossed into trash cans can contaminate soil, groundwater, and rivers. One quart of oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water. In Vallejo, there are 3 ways to recycle your used oil and
filters.

CURBSIDE
Vallejo Garbage Service started curbside motor oil recycling in 1994 adding oil filters in 2002. It's easy to get started. Just call 467-8248 to order a free oil jug and filter bag that will be delivered to your home. Your filled jug and dirty filter placed next to the garbage can will be picked up on your next collection day.

DROP OFF
Vallejo has 9 State Certified Used Oil Collection Centers. All centers will accept and pay you 16¢ for each gallon of used motor oil. You need to provide your own container that has a screw top. Do not use antifreeze, gas, or glass containers. Bring in your oil and filter during regular business hours. Centers can only accept 5 gallons of oil at a time.

Vallejo oil collection sites are: AutoZone at 730 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Jiffy Lube at 4300 Sonoma Blvd, Kragen Auto Parts at 3580 Sonoma Blvd and 1844 Springs Road, Oil Changers at 794 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Pep Boys at 128 Plaza Drive, Quality Tune-up at 3291 Sonoma Blvd, SpeeDee at 1675 Tuolumne, and Vallejo Garbage Service at 2021 Broadway (Thursday - Saturday only).

If you put any other fluid in with your used oil, it becomes hazardous waste and must be taken to our Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHWF). Our HHWF is located at the transfer station north of American Canyon. This free service for Vallejo and Benicia residents is open every Friday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

FULL SERVICE USED OIL COLLECTION CENTER

The easiest way to change your oil is to take it to your favorite mechanic or a full service Used Oil Collection Center. They will change and recycle your oil and filter and properly dispose of any other materials needed to handle the service. You can print out a coupon for a $5 discount on your next oil change at one of seven participating centers by logging on to www.VALCORErecycling.org

To learn more about recycling motor oil, come to a "Got Used Oil" event between 10 am and 2 pm at the following locations: May 13 at Pep Boys, May 20 at Kragen (Sonoma Blvd), May 27 at Kragen (Spring Road), and June 3 at Vallejo Garbage. Recycling used oil is the "right thing to do!" and reinforces your commitment to maintaining a clean environment for future generations.

The "Got Used Oil" campaign is funded by a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board. For more information about all recycling opportunities in Solano County, check out the Recycling Guide in your Yellow pages or go to www.recycle-guide.com.

VALLEJO COMPOSTING CLASSES
VALCORE will conduct a free backyard and earthworm composting class on May 13 at 38 Sheridan from 10am to Noon. We will give away two BioStack compost bins to Vallejo residents at each workshop. The class is sponsored by the City of Vallejo.

UNINCORPORATED SOLANO COUNTY COMPOSTING CLASSES
There will be three free backyard and earthworm composting classes for Unincorporated Solano County Residents: May 20 at Alan Witt Park in Fairfield at 10am and in One Towne Square in Vacaville at 2 pm. Information at 707 55-Earth or www.recycle-guide.com.

VALCORE Recycling President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald. For recycling information call VALCORE Recycling at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.