11. How should I dispose of oil and grease?

Stop and think - not down the sink

Fat, oil and grease cause major problems to drains and sewers. When they are disposed of down kitchen sinks or drains they cause blockages.

Plates, pots, trays and utensils should be scraped and dry wiped with a disposable kitchen towel prior to putting them in the sink or dishwasher and the scrapings placed in the bin.

All kitchen sinks should have a strainer for placing in the plughole to prevent waste food from going down the drain. Waste food collected in the strainer should be placed in the rubbish bin.

Waste oil comes from sources such as deep fat fryers, woks, frying pans and baking trays. Waste oil and fat should be placed in an airtight container e.g. empty juice carton, to prevent odours and rats and disposed of in the rubbish bin.

Checklist for managing fat, oil and grease in your kitchen

DO’s

Do wipe and scrape plates, pans and utensils before washing (and put the waste into the bin).

Do collect waste oil in a suitable secure container.

Do use strainers in sink plug holes (and empty contents into the bin).

DON’Ts

Do not put cooking oil, fat or grease down the sink.

Do not pour waste oil, fat or grease down the drain.

Do not put food scrapings into the sink (place in the rubbish bin).

Do not pour boiling hot water down the sink to try to dissolve fat and grease. It does not work!

The above simple guidelines will significantly help to maintain free flowing

water both within the drains of the premises and in the sewerage system.