How to Dispose of Used Cooking Oil

Many delicious dishes are created by deep-frying in oil, but cleaning up afterward can be quite a hassle. Once the oil has cooled, you need to decide whether to dispose of it, reuse it, or donate it. You can pour the oil into a sealed container before throwing it in the trash, have it picked up by recycling services, or take it to nearby restaurants for recycling. To safely dispose of cooking oil, remember not to pour it down the drain.

Let the oil cool before handling it. To avoid the risk of burns, allow the oil to cool completely before disposing of it. Never lift a heavy pot of hot oil or pour hot oil into the trash. Depending on the amount of oil, you may need to wait several hours for it to cool down.

• If necessary, you can leave the oil outside overnight.
• If there’s just a small amount of oil in the pan, simply wait for it to cool and use paper towels to wipe it up.

Choose a sturdy, airtight container. If you plan to reuse cooking oil, make sure to store it in a clean container. While glass jars are usable, they can break easily if dropped. A plastic container with a screw-on lid, such as a peanut butter jar, works best. Be sure to label the container to avoid confusion with others.

• If you don’t plan to donate or reuse the oil, you can cut off the top of a soda can and pour the oil into it.

Dispose of used cooking oil containers in the trash. Seal the used oil container tightly and place it in the trash. Avoid pouring the oil directly into the trash, as it can cause messes and attract rodents.

Freeze the oil and discard it in the trash. If you don’t have a sealed container, you can freeze the oil by placing a full container of oil in the freezer for a few hours. Once the oil is solid, use a spoon to scoop it into the trash.

• You can also use a large cup for this, but remember to wash the cup thoroughly with water and soap after disposing of the oil.

Pour cooled oil into a plastic trash bag. Use a trash bag that already contains some waste, like used paper towels or food scraps. Pour the cooled oil into the bag, allowing the trash to absorb the oil. Tie the bag tightly and dispose of it in the trash.

Never pour oil down the sink. Never dispose of cooking oil by pouring it down the kitchen sink, as over time, it can clog the pipes. Even diluting the oil with soap will not prevent it from sticking to the pipe walls.

• A severely clogged pipe could lead to flooding and wastewater backing up, so always remember not to dispose of oil by pouring it down the sink.

Do not pour cooking oil into compost piles. Never dispose of used cooking oil, especially from animal food preparation, into your backyard compost pile. Doing so will attract rodents, reduce airflow in the pile, and slow down the decomposition process.

Store cooking oil in a tightly sealed container at room temperature. If you prefer to store used cooking oil before reusing it, pour the oil into a sealed container. Keep it in the kitchen cabinet at room temperature until you’re ready to use it again.

Filter oil through coffee filters before reusing. Place a coffee filter over the opening of the storage container and secure it with a rubber band. Slowly pour the oil through the filter. This step removes food particles and helps keep the oil clearer.

• Food particles in the oil can cause it to smell or go rancid.

Reuse oil to cook more food. You can fry another batch of food using the reused oil, but be sure to stick to similar types of food, as the oil will absorb the flavors of whatever was previously fried. For instance, if you’ve used oil to fry chicken, don’t use it for frying apple cider donuts. If the oil has been used to cook battered foods or breadcrumbs, it will be challenging to remove the bits and flavors of the previous food.

• Vegetable oil often has a neutral taste, making it the easiest to reuse.

Avoid reusing cooking oil more than twice. If the oil has been filtered and stored properly, you can reuse it a few times. Before reusing, check the oil for cloudiness, bubbles, or an off-putting smell, and discard it if any of these are present. Never mix different types of used oils together, and make sure to dispose of the oil after 1-2 uses.

• Reusing oil more than twice can lower its smoke point, making it more likely to catch fire. This also releases free radicals and harmful unsaturated fatty acids.

Contact your city for recycling programs. Call or visit your local government's website to inquire about used cooking oil collection programs. Some waste management companies even provide containers for used oil and will come to pick it up. Local fire departments may also accept used cooking oil.

• In the U.S., your city might collect used cooking oil once or twice a year, typically after Thanksgiving. You can ask for the exact dates when they collect used oil.

Donate used cooking oil. Ask local restaurants or recycling programs if they accept used oil. These companies may turn the oil into biodiesel to power vehicles or for industrial use. You can also search online for "donate cooking oil [your city name]" to find places to drop off used oil.

• In some cases, you might even receive a tax deduction for donating used cooking oil.

Recycle all types of cooking oil. Most recycling centers accept all types of cooking oil to make biodiesel. Be sure to ask before bringing the oil in, and never mix it with any other liquids.

• Some centers even have dedicated bins where you can pour the oil directly.

Store cooking oil in a container until you're ready to recycle it. Pour the oil into a jar with a tight lid. Opt for a sturdy plastic jar to avoid breaking it if it accidentally falls. Keep the oil at room temperature until you can take it to the recycling center or wait for the company’s pickup service to collect it.

• If you plan to mix cooking oil into pet food, consult a veterinarian first before adding oil to their diet.

• Cooking oil container
• Coffee filter paper
• Rubber band
• Spoon
• Trash bin
• Trash bag