What do you do with your cooking oil when it’s no longer any good for frying? This might seem like a simple enough question but there are plenty of people who don’t really know the best way to dispose of it. The temptation is to pour it down the drain or tip it into your compost bin. Both of these are the worse thing you can do with your old cooking oil.
Pouring it down the sink means you’re risking a problem with blocked pipes. As it cools down, the oil will re-solidify and can cause your drain pipes and sewers to become blocked. The same will happen, even if you try to break the oil down with soap and hot water. As well as blocking your pipes it will also harm wildlife in the waterways. This is because a build up of oil can lead to levels of oxygen in the water dropping. Thereby suffocating any wildlife.
Composting your oil is not a solution either. It will never get hot enough in your bin to break it down.
Disposing of Domestic Cooking Oil
Once the oil has cooled down you should transfer it to a sealable container, preferably one that can’t be recycled. If the oil is from lard or dripping, once it has solidified you can throw it in the bin. The oil that has been collected will be accepted at a recycling centre near your home. Many now take waste cooking oil and don’t make a charge.
Disposing of Commercial Cooking Oil
Disposing of commercial cooking oil correctly is even more important. Businesses who do not do it properly run the risk of being fined. Various regulations are in place regarding the storage of waste oil, as it is a serious fire risk. Your local authority should be able to advice you on the regulations, or you can get in touch with a reputable waste disposal company such as Oates Environmental.
Disposing of Used Motor Oil
Old motor oil is considered a hazardous substance and therefore has to be disposed of correctly. There is a choice of places you can take it when it has been collected in an oil container. You may be lucky enough to have an oil change facility in your local town. Otherwise you will need to take it to a household waste recycling centre. The third option is to take it to a waste management company, so that they can dispose of it correctly.