How to dispose of used cooking oil 

Do

• Whatever you are doing with your used cooking oil, it should always be cooled first.  
• Small amounts can go into your FOGO bin if your local council supplies one. It should be absorbed with paper towel or newspaper first (or mixed in with food to be composted).
• Small amounts of cooking oil can be added to your garden compost, but don’t overdo it or it can slow down the composting process.  

Recycling centres

Some waste management centres take used cooking oil from various local councils – use the link below to find your closest facility.  

Cooking oil recycling

Alternatively, you can also contact your local council to enquire about community recycling programs for cooking oil. Some councils may have designated collection points.  

Don’t

First and foremost – do not pour it down the drain! It may seem like the easy option, but it can cause all sorts of problems:  

• Used cooking oil can seep into groundwater or runoff into nearby streams and rivers, polluting water resources and harming aquatic life.
• It can also play havoc with your plumbing!  

Surely you can pour it into your garden beds once it’s cool? Nooooo! Unless you want to be overrun by pests who like nothing more than a bit of cooking oil for dinner!

• Used cooking oil can contaminate the soil, making it difficult for plants to absorb nutrients and grow properly.  
• The oil can also make the soil more compact, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the roots of plants.
• Used cooking oil can attract a variety of pests and diseases that can harm the plants in your garden.
• It can also be a fire hazard if it gets too close to open flames or heat sources.

If you can’t find a convenient collection centre and don’t have a FOGO bin, it should go into your general waste bin in a sealed container.

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