Can Antifreeze Be Recycled? How to Dispose of Antifreeze Safely and Responsibly

Antifreeze can be recycled, despite being a highly toxic and hazardous material that can poison both humans and pets.

Antifreeze or coolant should never be poured onto the ground, into the trash, or down a drain. Not only could it seep through the soil and into groundwater, potentially polluting water sources, it can also be harmful to wildlife and plants.

Explore the different recycling options for antifreeze, what steps and precautions you should take when handling and storing the liquid, and how to keep your family safe.

How to Recycle Antifreeze

As with most recyclables, the disposal of used antifreeze depends on where you live. Certain communities will accept the liquid through their local household hazardous waste collection programs. You might also be able to recycle antifreeze at your local recycling facility or a service station. It is best to contact your local county’s environmental service office, department of public works, or local recycling center to discover your options.

A quick internet search will tell you if your area has a dedicated ABOP (antifreeze, batteries, oil, and paint) waste management facility. ABOP centers typically have drop-off locations to collect used antifreeze and dispose of it in an environmentally safe way. Similarly, you can contact your local recycling center, your county’s waste management authority, or even a local mechanic or automotive shop for more information.

It is rare for a curbside recycling program to accept antifreeze, as it would be considered household hazardous waste (HHW) by most residential collection services, but it doesn’t hurt to call and check. If not, the local recycling center will likely be able to direct you toward the nearest locations that take HHW free of charge. Similarly, if your antifreeze is heavily tainted (with oil, gas, or other solvents, for example) or contains too many heavy metals, it may require a different disposal treatment.

Once you send your waste antifreeze to the appropriate recycling or processing center, professionals will be able to remove contaminants and recycle the liquid.

In the recycling stage, used antifreeze is checked for any heavy metals or oil, then it's filtered, and more chemicals are added to create new antifreeze. Many larger automotive shops have specialized machinery on-site to recycle coolant, since it's an easy way to save money rather than buying new.

Testing conducted by the EPA shows that recycled coolants meet nationally recognized performance specifications established by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the Society of Automotive Engineers. In fact, recycled antifreeze isn’t simply just as good as the new stuff, it might actually work better since the recycling process reduces the chlorides found in hard water.

Most auto shops check coolant as part of regular maintenance or during routine oil changes, but those with car experience can test it at home, properly drain the radiator of old antifreeze, and transport it in sealed containers safely themselves. Determining whether or not your coolant needs to be changed is as simple as purchasing a coolant tester, which comes with instructions for interpreting results.

How to Dispose of Antifreeze Safely

The poisonous ingredients in antifreeze can include ethylene glycol, methanol, and propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is generally considered less toxic than ethylene glycol (it’s even been “generally recognized as safe” for use in food by the FDA), but it can still cause issues in high doses or for prolonged periods, especially in children.

Ethylene glycol poisoning is most serious and can cause permanent kidney or brain damage, as well as death, within the first 24 hours. Methanol is also highly toxic, and as little as two tablespoons can kill a child. Unfortunately, ethylene glycol is colorless, odorless, and sweet-tasting, which makes it easy for the toxic ingredient to be ingested by pets and children on accident.

Old antifreeze should be stored in a secure, clearly labeled plastic container before transporting it to the appropriate facility.