For many restaurants and cafes in London, it is a legal requirement to handle waste cooking oil properly.
Failure to do so can result in lofty fines and, in serious cases, the eatery may get sealed, leading to cessation of trading.
Also, many households in London fail to dispose of their used oil safely, and this costs local councils thousands of pounds, blocking drains and causing environmental issues.
When disposing of waste cooking oils, this is the most frequent error made by residential households, and it may be quite problematic for local governments and water providers who have to clean up the mess.
It can clog domestic waste pipes, causing unpleasant odors from your sink or the need to hire a plumber, but it can also seriously obstruct the sewage system.
Hence, it is really important to dispose of cooking oil safely. Let’s dig deep and find out how waste cooking oil can be put to good use.
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Can Cooking Oil Be Recycled?
Cooking oil can certainly be recycled. In fact, small amounts of it can be recycled in your food waste bin if you have a service that recycles food waste.
Some recycling facilities may accept huge quantities of cooking oil for recycling especially if your business needs frequently disposing of cooking oil.
Are There Any Cooking Oil Recycling Centres In London?
The following are some well-known centres that help Londoners get rid of waste cooking oil. You can contact them directly and let them know your queries.
- Haringey – Western Road
Contact info:
Tel: 0207 464 2225
Website: https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/places-to-recycle/haringey-western-road
Address: Western Road, London, N22 6XJ, United Kingdom
- Barnet – Summers Lane
Contact info:
Tel: 0207 464 2225
Website: https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/places-to-recycle/barnet-summers-lane
Address: North Finchley, London, N12 0AR, United Kingdom
- Islington – Hornsey Street
Contact info:
Tel: 0207 464 2225
Website: https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/places-to-recycle/islington-hornsey-street
Address: 40 Hornsey Street, Islington, London, N7 8HU, United Kingdom
- Waltham Forest – South Access Road
Contact info:
Tel: 0207 464 2225
Website: https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/places-to-recycle/waltham-forest-south-access-road
Address: 42a South Access Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 8AX, United Kingdom
- Camden – Regis Road
Contact info:
Tel: 0207 464 2225
Website: https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/places-to-recycle/camden-regis-road
Address: Regis Road, Kentish Town, London, NW5 3EW, United Kingdom
- Waltham Forest – Gateway Road
Contact info:
Website: https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/places-to-recycle/waltham-forest-gateway-road
Address: Gateway Road, Leyton, London, E10 5BY, United Kingdom
How Can You Dispose Cooking Oil At Home?
Getting rid of used cooking oil is a common concern of many Londoners. You can definitely get rid of it at home.
You can go about it in the following ways:
- When cooking oils have cooled, it is advised that you transfer them to a sealable plastic container before putting them in your household bin. The oil won’t soak through to the rest of your trash as a result.
- When using frying pans, you can also dab as much oil off the pan as you can with a piece of dish towel. You can then dispose of this kitchen towel in the trash.
- You might be able to dispose of more spent cooking oils at your local recycling facility.
What Happens When Oil Is Poured Down The Drain?
The way you dispose of cooking oil can significantly affect both the environment and your plumbing. If you don’t do it properly, it might clog your pipes and generate fatbergs in sewers.
The terrible oil clog has clogged countless sinks and toilets, which has affected nature greatly.
The following are some reasons not to flush cooking oil down the toilet or sink:
- It poses a hazard to animals because oil wastes a significant quantity of oxygen as it breaks down in water, robbing living things of their ability to breathe.
- It harms ecosystems since they depend on rivers and waterways for habitats, food, shelter, and oxygen. Animals are exposed to harmful chemicals and choking threats when oil is poured down the drain.
- The blockages from oily drains force backed-up sewage into rivers and streams, putting the filth in sewage. Our beautiful natural landscapes and fauna are seriously at risk from this.
- On top of having to pay call-out fees, you also have to deal with the embarrassment of telling a professional tradesperson that you greased up your toilet.
- Fixing a fatberg-filled drain is an unnecessary investment that can cost plumbers up to £40 per hour. Consider the possibility that you could have avoided cooking and oil disposal by using that money to treat yourself to a luxury meal out.
Are There Any Benefits Of Recycling Cooking Oil?
Since recycling is so important, we all have a duty to make sure we recycle whenever we can, from plastics to old cooking oils to paper.
The following are the key benefits of recycling leftover cooking oils:
- Maintaining Compliance
As was previously mentioned, as a business, you simply cannot afford to disregard the regulations for the disposal of your old cooking oils.
Businesses are required by law to properly dispose of them, and it is a plus if they can be recycled.
- Biofuels
Cooking oil waste may be used to create biofuels like biodiesel. You can make a liter of biodiesel from every 1 liter of leftover cooking oil that we collect.
These are diesel fuel substitutes for conventional fossil fuels. In actuality, recycled cooking oil was intended to be used in the diesel engine’s initial design.
A renewable energy source that is gaining popularity due to its cleaner combustion and superior environmental benefits is biodiesel.
Used cooking oils can be recycled into fuel, which contributes to the development of a sustainable energy source.