Alabamians are fortunate to have a beautiful and diverse landscape. Our state has numerous geological structures, ranging from mountain foothills in the north to white sandy beaches in the south. Alabama's soils are just as diverse. The makeup of Alabama rock and soil formations is illustrated on the next page on a map. On this map, the different shaded areas represent a variety of pemeability levels. Permeability is determined by how fast a liquid can move through rock and soil formations.
In areas of high permeability (20 inches per hour), used motor oil poured on this soil would drain through rapidly. This could potentially harm soil bacteria and small invertebrates living in the soil, and eventually contaminate ground water supplies. Where do you get your drinking water?
In areas of low permeabilty (near 0 inches per hour), improperly disposed used motor oil would permeate slowly or not at all, posing a contamination problem for surface soils. If it rains in this area, the used oil will run off into our lakes and streams. One pint of oil can form a slick as big as a football field, blocking light and reducing plants' ability to make food. Oil also clogs the gills in fish and suffocates them. When oil is ingested, the oil is absorbed into the tissue and passed along in the food chain.
The proper and safe method to dispose of used motor oil is through recycling. Recycling enables used motor oil to be cleaned and used again. For more information about collecting and recycling used motor oil, call Project R.O.S.E. at (205) 348-4878 or dial toll free 1-800-452-5901.