Neutralizing The Awful Environmental Hazards Of Grease And Cooking Oil

Many people that are concerned about protecting the environment are not aware of all of the everyday materials that can harm the planet. One of the most overlooked environmental hazards is cooking oil and grease.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates cooking oil under the regulation 40 CFR 112. They warn that it is important to dispose of it properly.

Preventing the Environmental Consequences of Cooking Oil

We have been conditioned to believe that petroleum is the only type of oil that can wreck the environment. The 2010 British Petroleum oil spill was one of the prime examples of the dangers that traditional oil can bring to the environment.

However, other forms of oil can be bad for the environment as well. Washington University in St. Louis has written extensive research on the topic. Brian Wrenn, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil engineering, wrote about some of the concerns we need to be aware of. He said that while vegetable oil spills are “not as acutely toxic”, they can still cause a lot of damage.

This is why it is necessary to dispose of grease and cooking oil the right way.

Protecting the Environment By Disposing of Grease and Cooking Oil in the Eco-Friendliest Way

Just the other day, I was wondering how I could dispose of leftover cooking fat after deep-frying some potatoes. Is the sink or washroom the right place?

Well, you may be stuck like I was, and that’s why you landed here. First, it is important to get this right. The worst possible mistake that you can make is to empty the oil into the bathroom or kitchen sink. Yes, even if you plan to drain water immediately after that.

So, what should you do?

This article has all the answers you need to remove waste in eco-friendly way. So, spare two minutes, grab some popcorn and read on.

Never Drain Cooking Oil and Grease down The Sinks

As we have mentioned, cooking oil and grease can cause severe problems in your sink and cause damage to the environment, which you might not see until you realize that the tap is blocked and sewerage isn’t flowing, too. Elizabeth Balkan, who is the Director of food waste at the Natural Resources Defense Council, confirms this by saying, “Never put any amount of grease or oil down the drain or in the toilet.”

Elizabeth shares a good reason; cooking oil and grease ruin pipes and hurt the environment. As a result, the sewage system will have problems.

You see? And of course, you bet that will cost you a lot in the long run, right?

So, don’t dare it at any time.

Professionally Clean the Oil for Reuse

Did you know that you can reuse the cooking oil? Did you also know that you can clean it instead of disposing of? How do you do this? You ask. You may choose to use unflavored gelatin or a coffee filter or best kitchen degreaser cleaner to clean them thoroughly.

Let’s start with unflavored gelatin.

Assuming you have a quart of cooking oil that you want to clean, here’s what the Food Lab advises you to do. Fill a cup halfway with water. Next, add a teaspoon of powdered gelatin. Leave it for a few minutes so that it can bloom completely.

After that, you can allow it to boil as you stir continuously to have gelatin dissolve completely. Then, slightly warm the used, dirty cooking oil and add it into the gelatin. Stir vigorously.

Finally, cover it and allow it to rest in the fridge for about 12 hours (overnight).

In the morning, what you will see at the top is a layer of oil. All food particles will be settled under it. Hence, you can scoop the oil and use it again.

Alternatively, if there is no much gunk to deal with, slightly warm the oil and filter using the coffee filter.

Contact a Collection Site

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where the municipalities collect used cooking oil and grease, contact them. Before they come over, remove the food residue in the oil. You can use the coffee filter we just mentioned previously.  Pour the oil into a sealable bottle and hand over when the collection site comes around. Else, you can deliver it to their offices.

Safe the Environment and Your Sink by Disposing of Cooking Oil the Right Way

You need to make sure that you protect the environment by getting rid of cooking oil properly. The eco-friendly oil disposal tips here should help you out.