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Where to recycle AutoZone Antifreeze? (7 precautions) 

By Our Lovely Earth
Page last updated: 12/04/2022 | Next review date: 12/04/2024
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Our Lovely Earth
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The article will explain how and where to recycle AutoZone Antifreeze. Other covered topics would include:

  • Does AutoZone accept antifreeze?
  • What are other recycling options?
  • What are precautions to be mindful of?
  • Can you pour antifreeze down the drain?
  • Can you discard antifreeze in your backyard?
  • How to store antifreeze sustainably?

Where to recycle AutoZone Antifreeze?

AutoZone antifreeze can be recycled in the nearest AutoZone centres. If there are not any, look for  ABOP (Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil, and Paint) waste collection in your area. 

It is important to know if your antifreeze is used, unused or tainted. In the case of used or slightly used, you can depend upon recycling centres, workshops, and service stations as they will accept the antifreeze. In case of tainted, household hazardous waste facilities are an option to pursue. 

You must never dispose of AutoZone antifreeze in trash cans or in the grounds or in drains as it contains hazardous and toxic chemicals, dangerous for both life and the environment. You must also be careful in storing the antifreeze correctly to avoid spills and misuse.

Can AutoZone Antifreeze be given to AutoZone centres for recycling?

The best way to recycle or dispose of AutoZone Antifreeze is to find the nearest AutoZone outlet and give your antifreeze and coolant to them. 

Many people wonder if is it possible to give your AutoZone Antifreeze to any AutoZone centre and if will they accept it. The answer is yes, they will. And the plus point is that they would not even charge for the disposal. 

And it is not just about the antifreeze and coolant, AutoZone will also accept materials like transmission fluid, gear oil, and motor oil. 

The next important question becomes is how to find the rarest AutoZone outlet or centre. The quest is very simple. You may either contact their helpline number or have the relevant information inquired about. 

Also, you can opt for online services. By exploring the website of AutoZone, there is a feature of the store locator. You can easily search for nearby stores by entering your location or any other required details. 

What are other recycling options when it comes to recycling Antifreeze?

We have explored one of the ways to deal with the used AutoZone Antifreeze and that is to give it to the nearby AutoZone centres simply. 

However, what can you do if there are no AutoZone centres near you? This section will address this question. The answer really depends on your location. If there is an ABOP (Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil, and Paint) waste collection in your area, your work is way easier. However, if not, there are other options too that you can depend upon. 

First of all, you need to know that the used antifreeze may be quite hazardous and therefore, regardless of how tempting it may be, you must never dispose of your antifreeze like your normal trash. It will cause great havoc and toxicity in the environment. 

Therefore, you need to know what good and sustainable steps you can take to have the antifreeze recycled or disposed of. For that, you need to know the condition of your antifreeze. It may be in three different conditions: 

  • New
  • Slightly used or old 
  • Tainted 

Unused AutoZone antifreeze

If the AutoZone antifreeze is new, chances are that most recycling centres, service stations and auto repair shops will accept it without hesitation. 

You can also consider giving it to any of your family members because the antifreeze is as good as new and everyone needs it, especially in extreme weather conditions. 

If you can not find an AutoZone centre near you, just know about the nearby recycling centres, and workshops and contact them about it. They will happily accept the unused antifreeze and you do not have to do much about it. 

Slightly used AutoZone antifreeze

The case of slightly used antifreeze is similar to that of unused antifreeze because here again, chances are that most recycling centres, automobile workshops, and service stations will accept the slightly used antifreeze. 

The centres will make sure that the antifreeze is used to its full capacity and you will make sure that the environment is saved from the detrimental and harmful effects of the antifreeze. 

Tainted AutoZone antifreeze

In the case of the tainted antifreeze, the story will take a sharp u-turn. When antifreeze is tainted, it means that its chemistry has changed dramatically and that it must be categorised as hazardous waste. 

You can still give it to an AutoZone centre, but if you can not find one, you will have to check on and inquire from your nearby recycling centres and mobile workshops. 

When it comes to tainted antifreeze, the chances get slimmer and not everyone at the workshop or service station will be accepting the antifreeze because it will be of no use to them. 

In that case, you can search for a nearby hazardous waste collection facility and have the tainted antifreeze AutoZone delivered there. However, it can not be asserted enough that you can never dispose of tainted antifreeze like your normal trash. 

Can AutoZone antifreeze go down the drain? (3 chemicals in antifreeze) 

It is a big NO when it comes to draining the antifreeze down the drain. The reason is simple: chemicals. The various chemicals present in the antifreeze can cause great harm not only to humans but also to animals, and aquatic and marine species. 

The chemicals present in antifreeze include:

  • Methanol 
  • Ethylene glycol 
  • Propylene glycol 

These materials are considered toxic to both human and animal life and therefore, their incorrect and exploitative disposal can put life (at large) at a huge risk of toxicity and this toxicity can also travel through different stages of food chains and food levels. 

As it is known, the waste from the drains eventually ends up in the water bodies. The compounds discussed above will alter the biology and chemistry of the water bodies and this may result in significant degradative changes to the local flora and fauna such as organ damage, affected reproduction and death. 

Can you discard AutoZone antifreeze in your backyard?

Some, if not many, also make the mistake of disposing of their used or even tainted antifreeze in the backyard. While this option may appear convenient, it is the least preferred one in terms of sustainability and eco-friendliness. 

The antifreeze, owing to its toxic chemicals that are used to make it, can potentially destroy your crops, and plants, and also cause damage to the soil. The materials that make up antifreeze are considered highly toxic and may stem changes such as death, wilting, changed pH of the soil, leaf discolouration, and reduced growth– to name a few. 

The case of tainted antifreeze is even worse and more severe. Imagine disposing of hazardous waste in your backyard. What do you think will happen? Life will literally be destroyed.

What precautions do you need to take while disposing and recycling AutoZone antifreeze? (7 precautions) 

Let us explore some precautions and steps that can be followed, pursued, and mindful of while disposing of used or unused AutoZone Antifreeze:

  • Find the nearest AutoZone centre to have the antifreeze disposed of/recycled
  • If there is no AutoZone centre, look for automobile workshops, recycling centres, and service stations 
  • There are tons of online websites that will help you like Earth911 or cccrecycle. 
  • It is important to segregate antifreeze into three categories: used, unused, and tainted 
  • Tainted antifreeze can be given to hazardous waste facilities or collection programs
  • Never drain AutoZone antifreeze down the drain 
  • Never dispose of AutoZone antifreeze in your backyard or in the soil 

How to store AutoZone Antifreeze sustainably?

Perhaps the storage of AutoZone antifreeze is as important as the disposal or recycling of it because good storage means that the environment is saved from the harmful effects of AutoZone antifreeze. 

For the correct storage, consider the following options:

  • Store the antifreeze in the designated bottles. Do not be excessively creative here
  • Store the antifreeze in a cool and dry place
  • Store the antifreeze away from sunlight
  • Store the antifreeze away from children and pets as it is toxic 
  • Store the antifreeze in locked cabinets with limited access to avoid any misuse and exploitation 

Conclusion

It is concluded that AutoZone antifreeze can be recycled in the nearest AutoZone centres. If there are not any, look for  ABOP (Antifreeze, Batteries, Oil, and Paint) waste collection in your area. 

It is important to know if your antifreeze is used, unused or tainted. In the case of used or slightly used, you can depend upon recycling centres, workshops, and service stations as they will accept the antifreeze. In case of tainted, household hazardous waste facilities are an option to pursue. 

You must never dispose of AutoZone antifreeze in trash cans or in the grounds or in drains as it contains hazardous and toxic chemicals, dangerous for both life and the environment. You must also be careful in storing the antifreeze correctly to avoid spills and misuse. 

References

  • AutoZone Store Locator. Retrieved from: https://www.AutoZone.com/locations/?intcmp=BLG%3ABDY%3A20181012%3A00000000%3ATAD%3ABLOG-HOWTO