Household: Dispose of cooking oil: How to avoid expensive mistakes

Abroad, Germany is often praised for its efforts to recycle waste in a sustainable manner. Various studies attested Germany to be the world champion in this, and the Federal Republic was sometimes called the “mother of waste separation”. An investigation by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in 2020 disproved the myth: far too much waste ended up in the wrong bin. One problem remained unrecognized: that To dispose of cooking oil. Read here about the risks involved and how to avoid them.

What is the best way to dispose of cooking oil and cooking fat?

Disposal according to Scheme F takes place with the residual waste. Old cooking oil and liquid frying fat can simply be filled into a plastic bottle and thrown away after cooling. In many places, municipalities or entrepreneurs also offer pollutant vehicles. Depending on the provider, this can also cost the consumer money. But the silver bullet is through the local recycling center. This ensures that usable cooking oil is recycled. Anyone who has more old cooking oil than fits in a PET bottle is asked to dispose of it here anyway.

Also read: New recycling: will the yellow sack really be abolished?

dried frying fat in the solid aggregate state you can also dispose of it in the residual waste. Old rags or tea towels can be used for this. Even with yesterday’s newspaper, the fat can simply be scraped out of the pan and wrapped securely before it ends up in the trash.

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What happens if I dispose of cooking oil differently?

If you don’t stick to the described path, you damage yourself and your environment in several ways. Because old, rancid food oil works in nature highly toxic, especially if it has already been used for cooking. Disposed of in the compost, it does not break down into its components, but seeps into the soil and contaminates the groundwater. Incidentally, the whole neighborhood should get wind of the wrong disposal in view of the odor development.

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Disposal in the sink is not much better. Whether in the siphon of the sink or in the toilet: old oil clumps and leads to blockages. In the worst case, this not only results in an overflowing toilet bowl, but also attracts rats, insects and other vermin. Last but not least, the sewage system and the local sewage treatment plant are also damaged. These add up after years of wrong waste management and cost the Treasury millions of tax dollars. Therefore stand Punish of up to 1,500 euros for illegal oil disposal.

What becomes of cooking oil after recycling?

Here, too, the following applies to the consumer: separate as thoroughly as possible. For who cooking oil without contamination at the local recycling center smacks two mosquitoes with one swatter. This not only avoids environmental pollution. In addition, clean cooking oil is also suitable for the production of environmentally friendly biodiesel or biogas. The waste product also benefits agriculture. Feed in fattening farms mostly consists of recycled food fats and oils. If the oil is contaminated with leftover food or other factors, it must be burned.

More worth knowing: Alternative to the plastic bag: are cloth bags sustainable?

Do-it-yourself experts and environmentalist but have also found another way to recycle. Coconut oil and olive oil can also be used for homemade cosmetics and hair care products if the use-by date for consumption has already passed. Both can also be used as a massage oil or to care for leather products. Craft hobbyists also know linseed oil as a reliable means of keeping wooden furniture or art in good shape. (fmg)

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