Information on Recycling Cooking Oil

Recycling used cooking oil benefits both the environment and economy.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, businesses in the United States dispose of more than three billion gallons of waste cooking oil per year. Add to that the cooking oil waste generated by residential cooking, and it is easy to see the burden waste oils have on our landfills and sewers. Cooking oil recycling programs, gaining popularity across the country, address this problem and create useful products for consumers and industries.

Significance

While professional disposal is common among businesses that generate waste cooking oil, many residential consumers lack information on the correct disposal of waste cooking oil. Clogs and backed up sewage lines occur when cooking oil waste is discarded down the kitchen sink or toilet. This problem leads to lengthy maintenance and costs for municipal sewage services, so customers are urged to place used cooking oil waste in with their regular garbage. Diminishing landfill space has made this a less attractive option for waste oil disposal, and new methods to reclaim waste cooking oil and create valuable products are being developed.

Collection

Many cities and regions across the United States offer oil recycling services. Participating begins at home, where cooking oil waste generation happens. Store used oil in a leak-proof container and save it until filled. Contact your local government to find out the options for disposing of the oil. Some municipalities offer drop-off locations, and others offer curbside pick-up. All collected waste oil will be taken to a recycling center to begin processing for future use.

Biodiesel

Waste cooking oil offers an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Cooking oil waste processing centers begin this process by filtering and removing any water that may have contaminated the collected oil. The waste oil undergoes testing for chemical composition, and then it is blended with methanol to begin a chemical transformation called transesterification. When the chemical process is complete, the waste cooking oil has been separated into two parts: glycerin and raw biodiesel.

Glycerin

The leftover glycerin is also a valuable resource gained from waste oil recycling, although it requires more processing to remove any residual methanol. It is commonly used in fertilizer or processed further for other applications. An important ingredient in soap making, glycerin is often procured by companies for use in manufacturing of soaps and cosmetics.

Benefits

Recycling used cooking oil has both environmental and economic benefits. Diverting the flow of cooking oil from landfills to practical use helps provide inexpensive fuel for vehicles and industry. Biodiesel can be used in most diesel engines with little or no alterations, so it can easily lessen dependency on foreign oil. Increasing awareness and participation in cooking oil recycling programs protects municipal sewer systems from overflow, leading to increased health and productivity. Also, recycling this valuable resource helps create new jobs and boosts local economies.

References

• EPA: Learn About Biodiesel
• New York City Department of Environmental Protection: Grease Disposal Tips To Help the City's Environment
• Auburn University: Producing Biodiesel for Municipal Vehicle Fleets from Recycled Cooking Oil
• The Appstate Collaborative Biodiesel Project: Glycerin Soap Making