How to dispose of antifreeze
Antifreeze is toxic to people and poisonous to animals, so it never goes down a drain, into a storm sewer or onto the street. Many drop-offs that take motor oil take antifreeze too, often free in household amounts.
Short answer
- Never pour it out — not in the street, drains, sewers or waterways.
- Take it to a drop-off that collects motor oil and antifreeze, or a hazardous waste program.
- Some service stations take unused antifreeze — ask first.
- Empty jugs can often be recycled once they're dried out.
What the rules say
New York City's sanitation department calls antifreeze hazardous waste, toxic to humans and poisonous to animals, and says never to pour it into the street, down household drains, into sewers or into waterways. Its options: bring unused antifreeze back to some gas or service stations (check first), a hazardous waste disposal event, or a hazardous waste company. Empty containers can be recycled once any remaining antifreeze is dried out with kitty litter, newspaper or other absorbent material.
Where to take it
- Palmer, Alaska: latex paint, oil and antifreeze, 5 gallons free.
- Stafford County, Virginia: motor oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze, 5 gallons each a day.
- St. Joseph, Missouri: motor oil and antifreeze, 26 gallons of each a year.
- Spartanburg County, South Carolina: every convenience center takes antifreeze.
- Chicago's household hazardous waste site takes it with other auto fluids.
See also our guides to motor oil and household hazardous waste.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites, then check each site's page for antifreeze.