Abstract: A pollution pad cleaning system for recyclably removing hydrocarbons from an absorbent material such that the material is re-useable as originally designed. As the preferred embodiment a pollution pad cleaning system comprises a multi-stage treatment process wherein polypropylene absorbent pads soaked with waste oil and the like are treated via a system of squeeze rollers, a solvent shower, centrifuge spin, and then drying and fluffing, restoring the pads to a "like new," reusable condition. The collected waste oil and solvent are removed at a predesignated concentration from the system for recycling.