So that I’m clear, I’m ***not*** thinking about pouring my used motor oil all over the yard. But I ***did*** think about pouring out a small jar of unused olive oil in the dirt. I’m 85 to 90 percent sure I’ve heard that’s a no-no, but I’m wondering why. What exactly happens when oil hits dirt? Shouldn’t the soil bacteria chew it up just like they chew up everything else organic? And would the same thing happen to crude oil?
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The concern for disposing oils is that oil floats on water and if it makes its way into a pond or marshland it can form a layer that blocks oxygen transfer and coats birds etc. Saturated oils/fats can also solidify and clog pipes but olive oil is unlikely to do that. Otherwise it will just be broken down by microorganisms.
Odds are a small jar will have no impact but you should still ideally bring it to a dump for disposal.
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