The short answer
Businesses: drain used oil filters into your waste oil, store them in a lidded, leak-proof container, and have them collected by a registered waste carrier with a hazardous waste consignment note. Householders: drain the filter, bag it and take it to your council’s household recycling centre if it accepts them.
Never put used oil filters in general waste, a mixed skip or a scrap metal skip.
Why oil filters are hazardous waste
An oil filter might look like a bit of scrap metal, but even after draining it holds oil in the filter media and casing. In the official list of waste codes, oil filters are 16 01 07*. The asterisk means they’re hazardous. That brings in the same rules as waste oil: safe storage, a registered carrier, a consignment note and records kept for 3 years.
How to dispose of used oil filters step by step
- Drain it. Stand the filter upside down over your waste oil container or a drain pan and let it drain fully.
- Contain it. Put drained filters in a dedicated, lidded, leak-proof container, such as a filter drum or bin.
- Label it clearly as used oil filters.
- Store it properly: under cover, on a drip tray if it might leak, and away from drains.
- Book a collection with a registered waste carrier, ideally with your waste oil.
- Keep the paperwork. Keep your copy of the consignment note for 3 years.
Common mistakes with oil filters
- The scrap metal skip. Oily filters in a scrap skip can leak oil into the yard and drains, and the skip contents may then be refused.
- The general waste bin. This mixes hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste, which isn’t allowed.
- Open boxes or bags left outside. Rain washes oil out of the filters and into the drains.
- Not draining them. Undrained filters hold more oil and are messier and heavier to handle.
Filters and your waste oil on one note
A consignment note can list more than one type of waste, each with its own code and weight. If we collect your waste oil and filters on the same visit, it’s one collection and one set of paperwork. See consignment notes explained.
Antifreeze, brake fluid and oily rags
Fuel filters and other oily filters should be kept in a sealed container too. Antifreeze (16 01 14* where it contains hazardous substances) and brake fluid (16 01 13*) have their own waste codes, and oily rags and wipes are usually 15 02 02*. None of these should go into your waste oil or filter drum. Keep each in its own sealed, labelled container: we can collect antifreeze, brake fluid and oily rags on the same visit as your oil and filters.
Householders and DIY oil changes
Many council household recycling centres accept used oil and oil filters from householders, but rules vary, so check your council’s website before you go. See our guide on how to dispose of engine oil. BL Oils collects from businesses, not households.
Who we collect filters from
We collect used oil filters from garages and workshops, dealership workshops, HGV and bus workshops, plant hire yards, farms and industrial sites across all of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Tell us roughly how many filters you build up between collections and we’ll plan around you. See oil filter disposal.
Frequently asked questions
Are used oil filters hazardous waste?
Yes. Oil filters have the waste code 16 01 07*, and the asterisk means they’re hazardous. They need a registered carrier and a consignment note.
Can I put oil filters in the scrap metal skip?
No. Used oil filters still contain oil. Keep them in a separate lidded container and have them collected as hazardous waste.
Do I need to drain oil filters before disposal?
Yes, it’s good practice. Drain them into your waste oil container, then store them in a lidded, leak-proof container.
Can you collect oil filters with my waste oil?
Yes. We collect filters on the same visit as your waste oil, with one set of paperwork.
Do you collect antifreeze, brake fluid and oily rags too?
Yes. Keep each in its own sealed, labelled container and we can collect them on the same visit as your waste oil and filters.
Where can I dispose of an oil filter from my own car?
Householders can take drained, bagged filters to their council’s household recycling centre if it accepts them. Check your council’s website first.
Need waste oil collected? BL Oils is based in Doncaster and collects from businesses across all of Yorkshire, plus Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Call or WhatsApp 07785 921493, email info@bloils.co.uk or ask for a free quote. Got an urgent problem? Our phone is answered 24/7: see emergency waste oil collection.
Sources and further reading
- GOV.UK: Hazardous waste overview
- GOV.UK: Hazardous waste (producers and holders)
- GOV.UK: Hazardous waste consignment notes
- legislation.gov.uk: List of Wastes (waste codes)
- GOV.UK: How to classify different types of waste
Checked against official guidance in October 2026. This guide is general information for businesses in England, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the linked guidance or ask the Environment Agency if you’re unsure.