Used cooking oils and fats can cause huge problems if not disposed of correctly. But what is the best way to dispose of cooking oil? It depends on whether you are a homeowner trying to get rid of your old oils, or a commercial business with huge amounts of used cooking oils which need to be disposed of.
For the homeowner, the quantities of used cooking oil which you need to dispose of are generally really small. Usually, after you have cooked your steak or burgers in the evening, there will be some residual cooking oil and fat left in the frying pan. It’s tempting to simply pour this down your sink, isn’t it? However, this is probably the worst thing you can do. It could clog up your drains, leading to costly plumbing repairs and smelly drains in your house. As the majority of household wastewater is sent to sewage plants to be treated before being discharged back into the environment, there are also huge environmental issues. The problem with this is that most sewage treatment works are not able to remove all traces of used cooking oil from the liquid, so they end up becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and can, over time (with many different households doing the same thing), clog up the main sewer pipes. These clogs, when left untreated, turn into “fatbergs”.
Fatbergs are sewer blockages caused by the build-up of solidified cooking fats mixed with other household waste that has not been disposed of correctly. These fatbergs can cause huge problems as they release unpleasant smells, and in some cases can cause sewage to spill out onto the street during times of heavy rain. Local councils spend £1000’s each year in the fight against fatbergs; the teams of sewerage workers really have one of the dirtiest jobs in Britain.
Read more about how the UK combats Fatbergs in this article by The Guardian newspaper. – https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/dec/20/fighting-fatbergs-this-is-now-a-huge-environmental-issue
What Can Homeowners Do?
The best way to dispose of cooking oil as a homeowner is fairly simple: you should pour out any fats and cooking oils into a suitable container, a jam jar or an old plastic bottle, for example, before they cool down and solidify. Once done, a lid should be placed on the container, and then it can be disposed of in your kitchen bin.
And For Commercial Businesses?
If you run a restaurant, fast food business, café, etc., disposing of used cooking oils is a bit trickier. Due to the larger quantities involved, there are certain legal requirements that you should adhere to in order to dispose of used oils correctly. There are specific rules for how your cooking oils should be stored, especially onsite within food preparation areas. You can’t just dispose of your oils and fats in the bin as you would if you were a homeowner. This type of cooking waste is classed as hazardous waste. Most recycling companies don’t handle this type of waste either; you need to seek out a specialist waste carrier who will collect this waste for you and dispose of or recycle it. They should also provide you with the relevant paperwork, which is required by law; failing to have this paperwork can result in your business being shut down temporarily, or at worst, closed for good!
Bio-Fuels
It’s not all bad news once your used cooking oils have been collected by the registered waste carrier. They usually take it to a processing plant to turn it into biofuels. Here at Cater Oils, we aim to recycle 100% of all used cooking fats and oils which we collect into Bio-Diesel. We work with various processing plants that can recycle these oils and fats. Bio-Fuels are a brilliant way to help turn your waste into an alternative energy source, which is great for the environment! The biodiesel can then be used to drive vehicles, which will cut down on fuel consumption and save the environment from even more harmful emissions. It’s a great way to keep your rubbish out of landfill and turn it into something useful that protects the environment!
So, to answer the question, what is the best way to dispose of cooking oil? We would say to store it properly, which allows us to collect your oil and recycle it into biofuel simply. If you are a commercial business needing to dispose of cooking oil, or even a homeowner with a good amount to dispose of, then please complete our FREE oil collection form. In most cases, we also pay you to take your oil off your hands!
