New Machine Simplifies Oil Filter Recycling

by 07/13/09 7 Comments

The latest product from Arnold Machine Inc., the FilterMatic, is able to separate the various components of an oil filter and allow them to be recycled separately.

Similar to the process of recycling electronics or other products made up of multiple materials, oil filters are not recycled as a whole product. FilterMatic allows an entire filter to be placed in the machine, which removes the steel base plate, crushes the steel filter and extracts any remaining oil.

Photo: Blog.fogel.ca

Used oil filters are recyclable because they are made of steel – the No. 1 recycled material in North America. This is good news, since more than 500 million oil filters are disposed of each year. Photo: Blog.fogel.ca

Even if a filter is hot-drained, there will still likely be oil inside. Removal of the oil is generally required before the steel can be recycled as scrap metal. The FilterMatic uses eight tons of force to separate metal and oil.

“We designed FilterMatic as an extremely proactive solution to maximize the recycling potential for waste material that results from a typical oil change,” said Zach Arnold, president of Arnold Machine and FilterMatic.

“Even more, we see FilterMatic as a way for oil change operators to position themselves as environmentally responsible in light of greater consumer awareness and preference for ‘green’ companies.”

The FilterMatic will be marketed to car repair shops and quick lube operators, which are typically the locations that accept used filters for recycling. By reducing the cost and liability of oil filter recycling, the machine provides additional incentive for locations that accept used motor oil to also collect oil filters.

In Earth911′s recycling database, only 32 percent of the locations that currently accept motor oil from the public also accept filters.

Trey Granger

Trey Granger

Trey Granger is a staff member at Earth911.com.


  1. Harrell McRae

    posted on October 12th, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    mcraecombustion.com shows equipment used by collectores of oil and used oil filters. The oil, steel, and even the energy is recycled using this method. The valvoline unit does not clean up the steel, and leaves about 20% by weight of oil and paper medium as a contaminate in the crushed "puck" Some folks think that just because oil is not running out, it is O.K. to throw in the trash. Have a responsible collector pick up the filters and really recycle this valuable resource.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.

6 Archived Comments

  1. Eric Lawson

    posted on October 11th, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    A friend of mine has a small auto service shop and he asked me to help him build a filter crusher. His air compressor won’t run most of the crushers out there so we were going to use hydraulics also. The parts I have found so far add up to about a third of the Filtermatic but that doesn’t include any kind of frame. We are only looking at about 5 to 10 filters a week so I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth trying to build one or are there more things involved that we are not considering. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

  2. Eric Cheyne

    posted on October 31st, 2009 at 10:27 am

    Try the FilterMatic. It shears the base plate which can be recycled and remove all the oil out. A typical crusher does just that, crushes the filter. There is still oil left in the canister, and the bas plate is still on… We have perfected the process… it is Automatic!!! Full Operator Safety! Looks great as well…

  3. Eric Lawson

    posted on November 7th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    We had to buy a bigger cylinder and reinforce the frame to get the filters drained enough for the steel recycler to accept them. It takes about fourty seconds to crush and drain each filter which in my opinion isn’t bad, but it is somewhat messy. My buddy on the other hand, who’s been paying for the parts, isn’t real happy with it. Not counting the first hydraulic cylinder we are over half the cost of a Filtermatic and you still have to run it manually. He keeps telling me he is going to turn it into a log splitter and buy a real one someday. My advice would be to investigate all your options cost, labor to operate, and especially cleanup time before you build or buy anything.

  4. Eric Cheyne

    posted on November 14th, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    If your cost is already is $2,000… you could purchase or finance the FilterMatic and have all your worries swept away. Complete automation, seperates the base plate and places it into a seperate bin for you, turns on once you place the first filter in, and then turns itself off once the last filter it complete. It can’t get any easier…. $4,995 or $128 a month… Plus, there is a window to view the entire process.

  5. Roy Braden

    posted on March 11th, 2010 at 5:40 pm

    I work for a transit company that is looking for filter cruchers. What is the biggest filter it will crush. we have one that is 36″ long.

  6. Eric Lawson

    posted on March 23rd, 2010 at 8:39 am

    I think theirs only does up to 6″, unless they have other models. We tried a 10″ one and it shot out the side of the pusher and dented the sheet metal so we added a retaining ring to the bottom nest. Now we are limited to about 4.5″ diameter. I’ve never seen one 36″ how big around are those? Their are 55 gallon drum crushers out there that might be more like what you are looking for.

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