Impact of cooking oil removal
With more than 2.5 billion gallons of used cooking oil created annually in the US, proper oil disposal is a major waste management issue. Due to the environmental impact of grease disposal, a conscious effort should always be made to recycle rather than dispose of used oil. Disposal of grease in a landfill can cause long-term environmental damage. Additionally, used oil is often improperly disposed of down kitchen drains, which can lead to clogged pipes, blocked sewers, and groundwater contamination. Here are some facts about the negative environmental and financial impact of fat removal:
- The city of San Francisco spends $ 3.5 million each year to unclog its sewers, and a big contributor is the cooking oil that runs down the drains.
- One liter of used cooking oil can contaminate up to one million liters of groundwater
- Animals exposed to large amounts of cooking oil are at risk of suffocation, suffocation, and covered in fur and feathers.
Benefits of recycling cooking oil
Recycling has become easier for both homes and businesses in recent years. Many municipalities have implemented grease recycling programs and more companies have focused on providing oil recycling and grease trap cleaning services to companies that generate large amounts of used oil. Most of what is recycled is refined into various types of biofuels that are used to power cars and domestic heating. Some of the benefits of recycling include:
- Biofuels produced from vegetable oil are cleaner and emit 78% less carbon dioxide than traditional diesel fuel.
- Biofuels, when used as an alternative to traditional fuels, have the potential to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by 80%.
- Recycling can generate additional income for restaurants in the form of compensation from the recycling company, as well as significant tax deductions.
- Reduction of blockage and deterioration of sewage systems.
The many benefits of grease recycling are leading to the widespread implementation of grease recycling and waste oil collection programs:
- In Europe, more than 80% of used vegetable oil is currently being converted into biofuel
- The average McDonald’s restaurant in the US recycles nearly 1,450 gallons of oil per year.
- 100% of used oil from Darden restaurants is recycled (Darden owns popular restaurant chains like Red Lobster and Olive Garden)
How can cooking oil be recycled?
Recycling for homes
- Go to Dispose of cooking oil to have all the necessary information on proper disposal and recycling at your fingertips
- After cooking, allow the oil to cool and pour it into plastic storage containers. You can store the containers in the freezer to allow the oil to solidify and prevent spillage during transportation to the recycling drop-off point.
- Locate your closest recycling drop-off location
- Plan ahead for recycling. Designate storage containers and leave them periodically (for example, once a month)
- Be happy that you are protecting your home and city from harm, helping the environment, and possibly earning some extra money for your used oil.
Note: Many cities and recycling companies will offer additional drop-off locations after Thanksgiving to handle increased demand.
Recycling for businesses (for example, restaurants)
Since most companies produce much larger amounts of cooking oil than the typical household, it is best to hire a used oil recycling company to provide recycling services. Many of these services provide compensation for wasted grease per gallon.
Whether you use cooking oil in your home or business, it’s important to learn about proper disposal and recycling, so you can do your part to help the environment and potentially improve your bottom line.
