Disposing of used cooking oil is an environmentally important task. There are several ways to safely reuse or dispose of it, but it should never be poured down the sink or toilet. Grease can thicken and clog the pipes. Oil disposed of down the drain can pollute the water table and affect wildlife and the environment.

Recycle and Reuse Cooking Oil

• Allow cooking oil to cool completely before handling.
• Decide whether the oil can be reused.
• Oil used for deep-frying such as peanut oil, can usually be reused several times.
• Strain the oil and store it in a sealable container for reuse.
• Some stores sell pots to recycle oil. The pots serve to store the oil once used and they have a strainer like fixture on top that collects all the loose particles.
• Alternatively, recycle large amounts of used cooking oil with the help of a cooperative local restaurant. Most restaurants have used grease bins whose contents are recycled into consumer products. Ask if you can add your used oil to their grease bin.
• Compost it. If you have a compost heap or a healthy backyard earthworm population, feed them kitchen scraps and cooled cooking oil.

Disposal of Cooking Oil (If you cannot Recycle or Reuse)

• Allow cooking oil to cool completely before disposing of it.
• If the amount of cooking oil is small, carefully pour it into a strong sealable container such as a coffee can or an old plastic or glass jar.
• Dispose of the cooking oil with the residential garbage collection.
• Take large amounts of cooking oil to one of the Department’s

Home Chemical Collection Centers.

Commercial Disposal of Cooking Oil

• Commercial Businesses cannot use the Home Chemical Collection Centers for disposal.
• Businesses are to follow DERM regulations for permits.
• For information on Permits, use this link http://www.miamidade.gov/derm/permit_applications.asp.