How Do You Dispose of Cooking Oil?

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says you should never put grease, oils or fats down your drain at home, because they can clog drains, sewers or septic systems, especially during cold weather when grease hardens quickly. It says to dispose of waste oils and fats in your regular trash instead, letting hot oil cool and placing it in a can or container before putting it in the trash. It says businesses must containerize high-quality grease and vegetable oils, such as fryer oil, and have them picked up by a rendering company or biodiesel producer.

The EPA lists fats, oils and grease, along with some household products including some marked flushable, among the inappropriate materials sent to sewers that can create blockages and cause sanitary sewer overflows. An EPA fact sheet cites its Report to Congress finding that grease from restaurants, homes and industrial sources is the most common cause of reported blockages, at 47%, because grease solidifies, reduces conveyance capacity and blocks flow.

The US Fire Administration says cooking fires start when the heat is too high, and that if you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, you should turn the burner off. It says to keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby and use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire, which will put out the fire.