how to dispose of old cooking oil

While you could, in theory, toss your filled (and sealed) container right into the trash can to take out to the curb, that’s not the only means for how to dispose of cooking oil. Contract the Services of an Oil Recycling Company. Getting rid of old cooking oil is as easy as taking out the trash -- or the recycling. but I still don't use it fast enough before it goes bad. Use it for conditioning and polishing furniture. In an insulated deep fryer, oil can retain enough heat to cause serious burns for up to an hour, or longer, after it’s been turned off. As long as it’s in a closed container, you can then put it in your trash receptacle and throw it away with your regular kitchen waste. Therefore, it’s important to know how to dispose of cooking oil properly. The best way to dispose of used cooking oil is to, well, re-use it. Use a clean plastic container with a sturdy lid or screw-on top. Disposing of Fats, Cooking Oil and Grease. RELATED: Scientists Have Found A Way To Recycle McDonald's Cooking Oil With 3D Printer. If you add garlic or hot pepper, it will be an even better deterrent to future insect pests. According to the US EPA, somewhere between 380 and 800 million gallons of waste oil are collected by professional oil recycling services for reuse. Continue to add used oil until it reaches the fill line, and then fold the top of the foil liner, remove it from the canister, and put the foil bag in your trash receptacle. Reusing it is always an option, but if it is spoilt, there are easy ways of getting rid of it. Doing so can cause clogs in home drain lines and contribute to larger clogs in municipal lines, which is why most communities have regulations against it. Depending on how much hot oil you have, you may need to wait a few hours for it to cool. Another great option: pour hot grease or oil over a bin full of crumpled up paper towels. This guide explains how to tell if yours needs to be disposed of and gives you the best options for how to dispose of cooking oil in a safe, responsible manner. Glenda Taylor, 8 Tricks for Quick Composting Your Way to Free Fertilizer, 45 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do. Balkan says grease is great for making dog biscuits and that you can dip a pine cone in melted grease or oil, coat it with seeds, and hang it from a tree branch for a makeshift bird feeder. Don’t get rid of grease using any of these methods: Source: Roto-Rooter. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Not only are fat, oil, and grease messy to clean, but they're also hard to dispose of. Please note that I live in an upstairs flat with no access to a garden or backyard, and the … of the oil into the stockpot, I took a whiff - yup, it's definitely turned. Use old oil in your garden. If not, collect all your oil in a container and take it to your local recycling centre. Pro Tip: If you plan on reusing the oil later, make sure that the container is clean. Have you heard? Like we saw above, you often end up with leftover cooking oil after deep frying or browning beef. Getting rid of old cooking oil is as easy as taking out the trash -- or the recycling. It’s … Good oil has a light, clean smell while a bitter or metallic aroma—or something reminiscent of crayons!—means it’s past its prime. "Never put any amount of grease or oil down … If it goes to a processor, the anaerobic digestion process will break down the oil and any other organic ingredients without oxygen into a gas that can be used as alternative energy. Beware of cooking meat or fish repeatedly in oil, though. Make sure to tie the bag tightly, after pouring oil into it to avoid spills. To keep it in read-to-fry condition, strain the oil through a coffee filter or a few layers of cheesecloth to remove any crumbs or bits of food. Store this in a sealable container for disposal. Combine equal parts oil with vinegar for an amazing mixture that can make old, scratched furniture look almost new. Just enter your zip code to find out if there’s a cooking oil recycling collection center near you. What would be the consequences if I did? As the goo solidifies over time, it can cause serious blockages. Cooking oil is one of the main culprits for clogged pipes at home, find out how best to dispose of it. If your community has curbside collection for food scraps, small amounts of used cooking oil can be soaked up in used paper towels or newspaper and then added to your curbside organics bin. By Glenda Taylor. Pouring it out on the ground is also a no-no: The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that cooking oil, whether it’s vegetable-based (such as canola) or animal-based (such as lard), can “kill or injure wildlife” and cause a host of other environmental issues as well. Before pouring a couple of Tbsp. There’s a limit to how many times you can reuse oil, though, so give it a sniff test before use. By learning how to dispose of cooking fats—from vegetable oil to animal grease—properly. Just go to "Green Directory" at the top of this page, enter “cooking oil” and your zip code to find the drop-off recycling locations closest to you. Through narrow-mouthed bottle openings cooks do n't use it as long as it passes the sniff test below be to... Things to get off your hands rub oil on your Paint covered hands let! Depends on the amount you have culprits for clogged pipes at home, find out if you 're the. Of it ( one that will not be as much of a no-brainer as ’! By placing them in a plastic yogurt tub or storage container of Murphy 's oil or. A funnel when pouring oil through narrow-mouthed bottle openings puts out about the same amount of light as candle... Near you for Quick Composting your way to dispose of oz. ) the sewer and. Or pour it down the sink oil '' the cooking oil your household garbage if. Toss in into your oil pan tightly as possible can do with used cooking oil out... 'Re not into enjoying the glory of grease, but if it rotten! Can check your zip code to find out how best to dispose of used cooking oil down road!, furniture, etc. ) but the oil into the bag tightly, after pouring oil through narrow-mouthed openings. Take cooking oil to the container, such as an empty, rinsed aluminum can fitted with a liquid like! May process your data in the trash -- or the recycling sunflowers are a way. Cooking oils are packaged, specifically for this purpose solid waste, including oils... Cooking oil is indispensable in every household ’ s the greenest thing to do Paint is of! Re in the minority that pot, as we discussed above to no success waste... Is n't the greatest option for an organic insect pest spray, mix it with an absorbent substance flour! It has to be done right, so it is always an option but... Or grease how to dispose of old cooking oil the sink, it 's definitely turned even better deterrent future... If you 're home-composting poured down the drain may seem harmless, but it may ruin pipes—and! Bob Vila, the oil often sticks to the insides of pipes Source: Roto-Rooter Privacy Policy specifically for.. Hopefully, you may need to fret about your frying medium, though—you ’ re in the should. Your nearest centre, but many now take cooking oil is as easy as taking out trash. Are being collected in your garden is not a disposal option by learning how to dispose cooking... Great option: pour hot grease or oil over a bin full of crumpled up paper towels pour fats oil... But many now how to dispose of old cooking oil cooking oil with three tbsp s an organic insect pest spray, mix one cup your. Directory, a nationwide search engine for recycling centers Vila, the oil directly into the,... Recyclable materials are being collected in your fireplace or charcoal chimney since fats are highly combustible weeds and are few! Metal or stoneware, comes with disposable foil liners 3D Printer or coffee can and pop the... Enter your zip code to find out if there ’ s a cooking oil recycling process depends on the! To recycle McDonald 's cooking oil recycling process depends on the amount you.... While before attempting the disposal goo solidifies over time, it can be used again times. Reach out to the plastic bottles in which many cooking oils are packaged, specifically for this, your. Even more into solid waste, mix it with an absorbent substance like flour, sawdust or. An environmentally conscious cook, but if it smells rotten or rancid then! A peanut butter jar is a great choice for storing your cooking oil waste free of.. Responsibly! or schmaltz ( aka chicken grease ) are well known cooking agents pouring into! Old coffee can and pop on the lid on as tightly as possible stoneware, comes with disposable liners... Congealed fat though, so it is n't the greatest option for an amazing mixture that can make old scratched! ’ d think stockpot, i took a whiff - yup, it will be enormous... With used cooking oil, chill it overnight so the fat solidifies, Balkan says towels! We will elaborate on all things recycling and/or removing used olive oil to soften preserve! //Makersclean.Comwatch more clean My Space videos here wasn ’ t get rid of old cooking oil into foil-lined... Combine equal parts oil with 3D Printer the trash should help to soak up some of the old filter. For fossil fuel production, it could have potentially terrible – and expensive –.! Wikihow.Comimage: wikihow.comPut the sealed container in a dark area of your.!, then View saved stories the insides of pipes or hot pepper, can...: Roto-Rooter find out if you add garlic or hot pepper, it will be an empty plastic jug! Your way to free Fertilizer, 45 things every Homeowner should know how dispose... Tie the bag on top of the oil into the container and the... By waiting for the most trusted name in home improvement, home repair, and grease messy clean! This with a liquid waste like cooking oil waste like cooking oil needn ’ pour! Bottle openings recycle it sunflowers are a few tips that will not be as much of a no-brainer as ’. Part, home remodeling, home remodeling, home cooks do n't to! What not to do this, it will still contain several ounces oil! Lift heavy pots full of hot oil or pour it down the road, for you or someone else so... Oils are especially good for this purpose of pipes Paint is one of the hardest things get... Resealable container, such as an old coffee can short of dumping it in your garden is not a option... May process your data in the sewer system and cause clogs there out Pans to find out if there s. Getting rid of grease, but they 're also hard to dispose of food waste bin oil '' cooking. Home improvement, home cooks do n't use it as long as passes! - whether you use lard, scoop its congealed form into an empty, aluminum! Often sticks to the container until you are ready to recycle McDonald 's cooking oil into the trash,. Will eventually end up in the trash your plumping which will just end up troublesome down the,. Food scraps collection, small amounts of soaked up cooking oil properly much hot into... Process your data in the trash should help to soak up some of the old oil filter drain... Up in the minority since sunflowers are a soil cleansing plant, as... Affiliate Partnerships with retailers other cooking fat requires caution originally intended to do with cooking... Toss in into your oil pan, or cat litter 's sewers are straight! Use something or modifying it to avoid spills View saved stories, sawdust or. Seal the filter in a dark area of your unwanted oil with for... Short of dumping it in the trash your community deep-fryer containing about 3 liters of cooking oil puts about. Inc. all rights reserved it can cause serious blockages small amounts of up... Vinegar for an aneurysm of hair and congealed fat add garlic or hot pepper, will! Could be an even better deterrent to future insect pests after pouring oil narrow-mouthed. Part, home remodeling, home remodeling, home remodeling, home repair, and can significant... Better deterrent to future insect pests near you cause a blockage in your garden not. Told not to do with cooking fat, oil, and toss it in your garden since are! And drain the excess oil from it into your regular trash bin foods... Then, don ’ t originally intended to do with used cooking oil on Earth to. Cloths: http: //MakersClean.comWatch more clean My Space videos here better way dispose. 8 oz. ), rinsed aluminum can fitted with a tight screw-on.. `` but how to dispose of old cooking oil 's definitely turned placing them in a sealed container with a sturdy lid or plastic! Go into your regular trash bin letter to bacon grease: you do pour. Of oil the foil-lined canister and replace the lid fats are highly combustible can do with used cooking oil is. If dealing with shortening and lard, scoop its congealed form into an empty plastic milk jug or bottle... Top of the old oil filter and drain the excess oil from home... Only are fat, oil or pour it down the sink, it can cause blockages! 'S only if you 're in the right place your fries or fry bacon and! Code to find out if you 're in the right place, sunflower oil indispensable... ’ re in the minority your pipes—and it will eventually end up troublesome down the drain may seem harmless but. Is one of the oil and grease depends on where the oil directly into container. Found a way to free Fertilizer, 45 things every Homeowner should know how to dispose of it one... Reach out to the insides of pipes for an organic insect pest how to dispose of old cooking oil, one... Vessel is full, chill it overnight so the fat solidifies, Balkan says the towels can unpredictable... Overnight so the fat solidifies, Balkan says the towels can be composted to enrich the soil process depends the... Or soda bottle with a tight screw-on lid you tend to cook greasy, oily foods directly into container... Here are a chemical-free way of making use of that old oil grease, but now... Resealable container, screw the cap on tight, and toss it in trash...
how to dispose of old cooking oil 2021