Holiday cooking tip: How to safely dispose of leftover grease
Especially during the holiday season, large amounts of waste are produced. You know how to handle the most waste. Compost goes in the brown bin, while glass, paper, and plastic go into the green, blue, and yellow containers. But the question of cooking oil remains. Many people pour hot grease from the pan directly into the sink or toilet. Experts warn against the consequences.
In the kitchen, while frying Christmas Eve carp, it's hard to keep things tidy. Grease on the stove, breadcrumbs on the counter, the smell of fried fish—it's no wonder you want to get rid of it as soon as possible. The first step is to clean the pan, spreading the mess and the unpleasant aroma. There are two ways to dispose of cooking oil without damaging drain pipes while caring for the environment.
What's the best way to clean oil from the pan?
The easiest method for cleaning a pan with a small amount of oil is the one used by chefs. It's quite simple: Just wipe the pan with a paper towel and throw the used towel in the trash for mixed waste. The problem arises when there is more oil.
Where to pour oil from the pan?
According to guidelines, used cooking oil should be poured into a PET bottle and placed in a black bin for mixed waste. Avoid pouring oil into a glass jar, as it can break when disposed of in the trash.
Be cautious when transferring to a plastic bottle. Do not pour hot oil, as the plastic will melt. Wait for the grease to cool down. Larger amounts of grease should be transported in a tightly sealed container to a Municipal Waste Collection Point.
Why can't I pour oil into the sink or toilet?
Liquid grease settles in the pipes. Other food remnants stick to the adhesive liquid. Once cooled, this creates a blockage that obstructs drainage. Such a blockage is difficult to clear with common chemical products. If the drain gets completely clogged, a plumber's intervention will be necessary, which could be costly.
Pouring cooking oil into the sink or toilet also has environmental consequences. Grease is not entirely removed at wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, the least harmful solution is to throw the bottle with used grease into the mixed waste bin.
Can cooking oil be segregated?
In some areas, special containers separate used cooking oil. Oil poured into a PET bottle should be disposed of in such a place. After cleaning and processing, the grease can be used in industrial production, for example, as an additive to biofuels. Oil from frying chops or fish can also be used for segregation, as can the brine from vegetable preserves or fish marinated in oil.
Used oil should not be added to compost. Adding dirty grease disrupts the work of bacteria that break down organic matter. Oil in the soil also poses a threat to organisms living underground and can lead to the contamination of surface waters.
