Davide Punto Cucina: How to Discard Used Oil Without Polluting Nature?

Did you know that used oil is also a polluting factor of the environment?

Oil is a basic ingredient in the kitchen, we love fried food and even when sometimes it is not healthy, now you can find different presentations with good properties. But when frying bacon, turkey, chicken, or any meal, you will end up with used oil that you don’t know how to get rid of without contaminating the environment. Remember: saving the planet is vital, and for that, you need to be conscious of your disposals.

Reuse

The oil that you use for deep frying can be used at least twice because you are going to pour a lot of it and, if you work with a high-quality one, reusing that is a great way to save money and help the planet. You must strain it to remove any particle with a coffee filter or a cheesecloth, store it in an airtight container, and place it in a dark cabinet or drawer. When you are going to use it again, check first if it is still good.

Safest disposal options

If you don’t like to reuse cooking oil, or it got rancid, you will need to find another safe way to do it. A great choice is to go to your local solid waste department and see if they have anything available or some recommendations. But, if you want to try at home, these tips can help you do it safely and without hurting the environment:

After it cooled completely, use a non-recyclable container to get rid of it. The perfect ones are the cardboard milk or juice cartons; also wax or plastic lined recipients work fine, and even the takeout containers. So, if you ordered a meal remember that you have used oil for dispose, and use the container. Then you can throw it to the garbage can.

Use an empty can and place the used oil in it, then freeze or refrigerate it. When it is firm, you can get rid of it in the wastebasket. If the amount of oil is less than one cup, use a coffee mug to solidify it in the freezer, then to the trash can.

If your wastebasket is almost filled, you can pour it over the trash that is already there like napkins, paper towels, food scraps, and others that can absorb it so there won’t be a mess if the bag breaks out.

Cat litter, sand or soil can help you too. When changing the cat litter take the used oil and pour it all over, which is a great absorbing material, and then you can dispose of both.

Nowadays you can find a special type of trash bags and wastebasket for kitchen wastes such as oil. For example, the Fat Trapper system is a plastic basket that can hold foil-lined bags, when it is full you can seal it and put in the garbage container.

Recycling

In some cities and states, there are some recycling places and programs where you can take the oil so they will transform it in biodiesel, which many vehicles use for their motors, and also as heating oil for houses and buildings.

What not to do?

Never dispose of it through the drain or the toilet, it can damage your pipes and the city sewers in the process. Besides, water contaminated with oil is almost impossible to treat, and it can spread to the oceans.

Don’t pour it on the compost bins that you are preparing at home, used cooking oil is nothing more than fats and it can be terrible for it.

Finally, never pour hot oil into the trash cans or bags, it can be dangerous for you when handling them.

Cooking oil can be a problem if you don’t get the right information. We bear the responsibility of contributing to the healing of the planet, more pollution to Earth can endanger animal species and humans alike. Change your lifestyle and help our planet. Come to Davide Punto Cucina to enjoy a good Christmas time and share with family and friends.