Ask the Mayor: How Do I Dispose of Used Motor Oil?

Maui Now stock photo. Feb. 2017.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the questions submitted to his staff.

Submit your own questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa at AskTheMayor@mauicounty.gov, 270-7855 or mail them to 200 S. High Street, 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.

Aloha Mayor Arakawa,

Q: After changing the oil in my car I tried to drop off the used oil at the shop for recycling like I always do. This time they told me I had to take it back home because the county wasn’t accepting the oil anymore due to budget cuts.

Is this a short-term situation? I don’t want to hang on to the oil if it’s going to start clogging up my garage.

A: The Used Motor Oil (UMO) program is being halted temporarily, so please continue to store your oil change oil a little longer. The UMO program was being managed using state funds, which are no longer available.

However, our Maui County Department of Environmental Management has submitted to the County Council a supplemental budget increase request. We anticipate that this request for additional funding will be passed in time to allow the UMO program to be resurrected through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

This is one of our most important recycling programs because just one gallon of oil can contaminate millions of gallons of water.