Can Cooking Oil Be Recycled?

February 11, 2024

Cooking oil has always been widely considered to be non-recyclable, causing people to throw it into the bin or even tip it down the drain – which you must never do. However, cooking oil is actually very much recyclable. An increasing number of companies and businesses are making used cooking oil a valuable resource when it comes to fuel for vehicles, whether it be their own fleet or that of another company’s.

For example, the world renowned fast food chain, McDonalds, takes the used cooking oils that come from its kitchens and, like us here at Cater Oils, turns it into biodiesel that fuels more than half of their food delivery fleet. In addition to used cooking oil, McDonalds also recycle cardboard packaging and milk bottles, turning it into energy. McDonalds claims that doing this helps to divert almost 50% of their waste from landfill. So let’s take a closer look at how you can recycle your cooking oil, especially in the home.

Is cooking oil recyclable?

In short, yes. Like most things these days, cooking oil is 100% recyclable, whether you reuse it throughout your home or send your used cooking oil to a dedicated company, like us here at Cater Oils. A commercial waste oil collection company will likely turn the cooking oil into biodiesel for vehicles to run off, as an alternative to petrol and diesel-powered cars, vans and lorries. This is what we do at Cater Oils.

However, if you only have a small amount of cooking oil that’s been used for domestic reasons, then there are a few things you can do to dispose of it in a responsible and eco-friendly manner at home. You must never pour used cooking oil down the drain, but if you’re not keen on putting it in the bin, then you can recycle your used cooking in other ways, which we’ll get onto in a moment.

How can I recycle cooking oil?

There are multiple ways in which you can recycle your used cooking oil at home. The number one thing that people do is give it to a used cooking oil collection company, like us here at Cater Oils. However, if you only have a small amount of it, you might see it more fit to use it in and around the home. You should never put used cooking oil down the drain, so give these methods a try instead if you’re looking to get rid of used cooking oil:

Give it to a Cater Oils so that it can be turned into biodiesel for use throughout the community

If you’re looking for a quick, free and convenient way of getting rid of used cooking oil, then look to Cater Oils for our free waste cooking oil collection service. We are able to come to your premises and collect your used cooking oil for free. We can also give you cash or a credit note against fresh cooking oil supplies if you give us your used cooking oil. We will then take it and create biodiesel for use throughout the community, therefore lowering CO2 emissions.

Use it as a lubricant throughout the household

You might not know that you’ll be able to use cooking oil as a lubricant throughout the household. Where it might be better to use fresh oil, used cooking oil will work in exactly the same way. You can use cooking oil to lubricate a wealth of different aspects in and around the home, from door hinges to stiff locks. You can also use cooking oil to prevent metal objects, such as garden shears, from rusting, therefore elongating the life of even the most everyday of objects.

Polish furniture with it

You can use cooking oil to polish up a variety of different furniture items, whether it be made of wood, metal or anything in between. You’ll find that it will be able to diminish the look of scratches and defects, as well as restore its shine. It will look like a brand new piece of furniture if you use cooking oil to polish it. Don’t throw your oil down the drain, use it to breathe new life into the furniture throughout your home.

Oil can be used to preserve leather

From leather furniture right through to leather suitcases, cooking oil can be used to soften leather items. Where you should use cooking oil in moderation on your leather items, it is still very much effective at leather preservation. Whether you’re looking to breathe new life into your leather furniture, or otherwise, or if you’re wanting to elongate the life of leather items, like suitcases or even books, cooking oil is a great way of preserving those items.

It can be used to remove paint and paint stains

If you’re finding it hard to remove paint or paint stains from different surfaces, whether it be in the home or out in the garden, then you’ll soon find that used cooking oil will be able to strip the paint from most surfaces. All you have to do is add the oil to the paint, leave it to stand for five minutes, and then rub or scrape it off the surface. Once you have finished, make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is because oil can stain clothing and other items in and around the household.

You’ll be able to use it as animal feed

Whether you’re wanting to sprinkle some over cat or dog food to add some moisture and some flavour or use some of it to combine seed and fruit for the birds in your garden, you’ll be able to use your used cooking oils to feed animals. Not only does it mean you’re not tipping it down the drain, but it will also help to add some nutrition to the diet of either your pets or the wildlife that like to visit your garden.

Cater Oils is pleased to collect used cooking oil from our customers, whilst still providing a sterling cooking oil supply service to a wide range of different businesses and industries. If you would like further information about how we can help you today, whether you be a domestic or commercial customer, get in touch with a member of our professional, friendly team – we’re always pleased to hear from you.