How to Dispose of Cooking Oil (UK Guide)

Whether you’ve shallow-fried some eggs or deep-fried a mountain of chips, you’re left with the same question: what do I do with the used oil? Pouring it down the sink might be easy, but it’s one of the worst things you can do — and could leave you with blocked pipes, smelly drains, and a hefty plumbing bill.

Here’s how to dispose of cooking oil properly, whether you’ve got a little or a lot.

Never Pour Cooking Oil Down the Sink

Let’s get this one out of the way first. Never pour cooking oil, fat, or grease down the drain. Ever. Even small amounts can solidify in pipes, attract food waste, and lead to fatbergs in the sewer system. These massive clogs cost water companies millions and cause environmental damage.

Even mixing oil with hot water and soap doesn’t solve the problem — it still eventually cools and hardens in your pipes.

What to Do with Small Amounts of Cooking Oil

If you’ve only used a small amount of oil for frying or sautéing:

• Let it cool completely

• Pour it into a sealed container (like an empty bottle, jar, or yoghurt pot)

• Wipe any remaining oil from pans with kitchen roll

• Place the sealed container in your general waste bin (not recycling)

Most UK councils don’t allow oil in food waste or recycling bins, so double-check local rules.

What to Do with Large Amounts (Deep Frying)

If you have large quantities of oil from deep frying, it’s best to recycle it.

Option 1: Take it to a Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)

Many local councils have oil recycling facilities at their waste sites. You’ll need to:

• Let the oil cool

• Pour it into a sealed, labelled container

• Drop it off at your local HWRC under “cooking oil” or “liquid fats”

Some councils also collect used cooking oil during food waste collections, but this is rare — check with your local authority first.

Option 2: Reuse or Strain for Another Use

If the oil hasn’t been burnt or overly contaminated, you can strain it through a coffee filter or muslin cloth and reuse it a few times. Store it in a cool, dark place and label it.

Use your judgement — if it smells off, is too dark, or has bits floating in it, it’s time to get rid of it.

Eco-Friendly Disposal Options

• Use a cooking oil recycling scheme — Some companies and food waste services collect used oil and convert it into biofuel. This is more common in commercial kitchens, but some are available to households.

• Turn it into bird fat cakes — Mix small amounts of used (unsalted) fat with bird seed and let it set in moulds.

• Composting? Not recommended — Oil can cause odours, attract pests, and disrupt composting balance, so it’s best avoided.

What About Solid Fats (Like Lard or Dripping)?

Solid fats should be:

• Left to cool and harden

• Scraped into your general waste bin (wrapped in paper or placed in a sealed container)

• Not poured down the sink or flushed

Final Thought

Disposing of cooking oil properly is simple — just don’t pour it down the sink. Whether it’s a few tablespoons or a deep fryer’s worth, cool it, contain it, and bin it or recycle it through your local waste centre. It keeps your pipes clear, the sewers flowing, and your kitchen (and conscience) in the clear.