Recycle products. Donate, sell or give away unneeded personal and household goods so others can use them. Recycle tires so that they can be shredded for use on roadbeds and track surfaces.
Build a compost heap. Re-use organic scraps such as yard clippings and leftover foods by turning them into fertilizer for your lawn or garden. Encourage local restaurants to compost their food scraps and use the resulting compost for their landscaping needs.
Re-use cooking oil and fats. Strain used grease into containers for use in later cooking. Keep separate containers according to type of food cooked, such as donut oil, fish and bacon.
Filter motor oil to use it again. Use it as grease on nuts, bolts and chains, or to coat machine parts that are in storage. Use old motor oil to treat outdoor metals and soak rusted mechanical devices. Add small amounts of it to wood heaters for additional burning power.
Motor oil can also be used to waterproof wood. Spray it as an undercoating on vehicles to protect them from damaging road conditions. In rural areas, old motor oil can be used as dust control on paths or roadways.
Eliminate insect pests by spraying them with old motor oil. Wasp nests, mosquito larvae, ants and bees can all be destroyed by the judicious use of sprayed motor oil.
Filter used motor oil down to one micron, then add it to diesel fuel to extend its usage. Add approximately 1 gallon of filtered used oil to 26 gallons of diesel.
Make pig oilers by combining burlap sacks with old motor oil. When the pigs rub against the posted sack, the oil kills fleas and other parasites on the animals.
Buy a heater that burns old motor oil. Waste oil heaters are economical, efficient and use large quantities of old oil.
Ask your employer to start recycling programs in the workplace. All businesses should re-use materials, whether it is office paper, computer components or building materials. Volunteer to help promote environmental programs.