There are several safe and effective ways to dispose of old cooking oil. Here are some options:
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Reuse it: If you use the oil for foods like vegetables or potatoes, the oil can be used again several times. However, its best to avoid cooking meat or fish repeatedly in oil, as it can become unsafe to cook with.
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Pour it out: Once the oil has cooled down, you can pour it into a sealed/non-breakable container and toss it into the trash.
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Freeze it: If youre not sure whether you want to repurpose your cooking oil, you can freeze it and decide later. Freezing oil takes about a day, making it solid and easier to remove. Cooking oil stored in an airtight container remains fresh for almost two years in the freezer or fridge and one year in the pantry.
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Compost it: Depending on the type of oil, your used cooking oil can be composted in small quantities. Vegetable oil is more conducive to composting than other strands of oil because it is organic. However, adding too much at one time will slow down the process and create a foul odor that will attract rodents and other animals that will become a nuisance.
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Use it to kill weeds: Cooking oil becomes a natural, non-toxic insecticide, helping to keep bugs away when combined with water to spray on infested plants.
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Recycle it: Check with your local recycling center and ask if they accept used cooking oil. If so, use an empty gallon milk jug to transport the oil to the recycling center.
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Repurpose it outside the kitchen: Used cooking oil can be used as a lubricant for household items like hinges and locks, or as a rust preventer for metal surfaces and objects such as tools.
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Get someone else to recycle it: If your local restaurant doesnt convert their used oil into biodiesel, there are still countless programs run by other restaurants, waste management companies, and the government that aid in the effort to reduce neglectful disposal of oil.
