Don’t let used cooking oil go to waste

Array

December 30, 2009 4:18 pm

What’s cooking for that leftover kitchen grease after a big meal? Perhaps a second life as a local source of sustainably refined biodiesel fuel.

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division and General Biodiesel are working together to keep grease out of the sewer system. By recycling used cooking oil into a locally produced biodiesel fuel to power cars, buses and trucks, everyone can contribute to a cleaner Puget Sound region.

People can take used or unwanted cooking oil or grease directly to one of the following convenient drop off locations:

* Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE, (the collection tank is located just inside the North Driveway).

* General Biodiesel’s main office, 4034 West Marginal Way SW, Seattle.

Drop offs are open and publicly available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Fats, oils and grease can contribute to line blockages and cause raw sewage overflows that put public health and the environment at risk. They also can cause clogs and back-ups in residential plumbing, leading to messy, expensive clean ups that are certain to dampen holiday spirits.

King County and General Biodiesel offer these tips for residents looking to protect their plumbing through proper disposal of their holiday fats, oils and grease:

· Collect grease from pots, pans, and grills into a safe transport container before taking to the above collection locations.

· Never pour oil or grease into a drain or toilet.

· Never put grease or meats in garbage disposals.

· If you cannot drop it off, put it out with your weekly garbage.

· Let grease solidify in the container before putting it out with your garbage.

· Before putting large amounts of cooking oil in the garbage, mix it with an absorbent material like sawdust or kitty litter. Consider dividing large amounts over several collection days.

· Put baskets and strainers in sinks to catch food scraps.

More information on keeping sewers “fat-free” is available online or by calling 206-684-1280 or 711 TTY.

General Biodiesel is a Seattle-based enterprise that processes and refines regionally generated used cooking oil, grease, and renderings in to EPA-registered road-use biodiesel.