Christmas is a time for celebration, joy and spending time with family. It’s a time when we all gather around the table to enjoy some delicious food. But we all want to spend the entire season devouring some festive treats. No one wants to have to deal with the effects of leftover cooking oil, especially post-Christmas dinner.
Something that many households do is pour leftover oil and grease down the sink – this will only cause problems. Not only can it clog your drains, but it also has a detrimental effect on the environment and the general sewage infrastructure. In this article, we’ll be discussing the importance of disposing of waste cooking oil the right way, especially at Christmas. Here’s why recycling it matters over the festive season (and throughout the rest of the year, actually):
Why is used cooking oil a problem at Christmas?
Used cooking oil has long been a problem when disposed of incorrectly, and it’s not just an issue that presents itself in the UK. It’s a global problem that needs to be addressed so as to protect the planet, our ecosystems and our sewage infrastructure. But why is waste cooking oil a problem at Christmas when compared to other times of the year?
According to Water UK, 27% of Brits dispose of their fats down the sink, 22% pour it down the drain and 11% tip it in the loo. With these worrying statistics, combined with the fact that we cook more food at Christmas than at any other time of the year, it’s no wonder that we’re becoming increasingly concerned about how people are actually disposing of waste cooking oil.
Incorrect waste cooking oil disposal: what are the consequences?
When used cooking oil and grease are poured down the sink, the drains or the toilet, it all ends up in the sewage system. Unfortunately, given the nature of the liquid, it will solidify as it cools, therefore causing a build-up. Over time, this build-up will increase, eventually causing significant blockages. Not only can this block up your home’s pipes, it also has the potential to back up an entire street.
In October 2025, a ‘fatberg’, which is a term used to describe the mass created as a result of pouring grease, fat and oil down the drain, was removed from a west London sewer. It took more than a month to remove and weighed as much as eight double-decker buses. It consisted of mostly wet wipes, held together by fat, grease and oil. More worringly, Thames Water alone has had to clear 28,899 blockages from London’s sewers this year alone.
Not only do fatbergs have the potential to block drains and sewers, but they can also cause flooding in the area. This is because all of the channels that were once free to take away excess water would become blocked up, causing it all to back up and overflow. In turn, this can overwhelm wastewater treatment plants, therefore resulting in higher costs for the taxpayer. In addition, animals, insects and plant life can also be affected.
Why does recycling used cooking oil matter?
Recycling your used cooking oil at Christmas, as well as all year round, is an important part of the overall cooking process. Not only do you get to whip up some tasty treats, but you can also keep your carbon footprint low while doing it. So, aside from making sure we aren’t producing fatbergs in our area, why else should we recycle waste cooking oil? Let’s take a closer look:
It has the potential to be turned into biodiesel
Here at Cater Oils, 100% of the waste cooking oil we collect from our clients is processed into biodiesel. For every litre of used cooking oil processed, a litre of biodiesel is produced. Biodiesel is treated as an alternative to conventional types of fuel, but it’s far more eco-friendly in comparison to petrol and diesel. According to Cummins, biodiesel provides many benefits, including: environmental, emissions, cost-effectiveness, ease of use and general performance. This environmentally-friendly fuel, biodiesel, is used to power vehicles and generators across the community.
It reduces landfill waste
For every drop of oil, grease and fat that’s collected and not thrown in the bin, it reduces landfill waste. When oil is sent to landfill, it breaks down slowly, emits greenhouse gases and leaches into soil and water, therefore affecting our ecosystems and wildlife. Recycling your waste cooking oil is the best possible option, and you can choose Cater Oils to do it.
It protects piping & sewage infrastructure
We’ve touched on the frightening consequences of fatbergs on our sewage systems, pipework and drains. So, by recycling your used cooking oil, you’re protecting both the planet and the sewage systems. Blocked drains and pipes are a costly issue, and they can also encourage flooding in some areas.
It’s part of a circular economy
Instead of becoming waste, used cooking oil is transformed into something useful, therefore making Christmas celebrations all the more sustainable. Forget throwing your used cooking oil in the bin. Also, refrain from pouring it down the drain this festive season. Instead, recycle it with dedicated firms like us here at Cater Oils.
How to recycle your waste cooking oil with Cater Oils
When recycling your waste cooking oil with Cater Oils, all you need to do is get in touch with us. We offer waste cooking oil collection services to our clients. So, it’s never been easier or more convenient to get rid of it safely. We’ll give you a credit towards a fresh supply of cooking oil or cash-back – whichever works best for you. Usually, if you have used cooking oil that you want to recycle, you should do the following things:
- Let it cool down completely
- Strain out the food particles that might be present
- Store it in a sealed container
- Let our professionals come and collect it from your premises
- Alternatively, there are dedicated recycling points at recycling centres or large supermarkets
Bonus tips for disposing of used cooking oil
While we advise against putting cooking oil in the bin, for environmental reasons, we absolutely insist that you do NOT tip it down the drain. If, however, you don’t have access to any recycling points, then there are a few other things you can do, including putting it in the bin as a last resort. Let’s see what you can do with waste cooking oil:
- Reuse it if it’s been strained of food, hasn’t burnt and still looks and smells good
- Solidify it so that it can be placed in your general household waste bin
- Compost very small amounts of it
- Bury it as a last resort
At Cater Oils, we’re proud to provide a wide range of high-quality fresh cooking oils, including olive, vegetable, sunflower, rapeseed and more. To help your kitchen operate more sustainably, we also offer a free waste cooking oil collection service, with the choice of receiving either credit toward your next fresh oil order or cash back. For more information about our products or our hassle-free collection service, contact our friendly and professional team today – we’re always here to help.
