Greasing the wheels of recycling

Photo: Contributed

A new program set up between the Regional Waste Reduction Office and McLeod's Byproduct's of Armstrong will allow residents to safely dispose of leftover household cooking oils and congealed grease.

“Cooking oils and grease from roasting, frying and baking turkeys, chickens and other meats can collect in and clog your drains-and harm the environment in the process,” says Rae Stewart, Waste Reduction Facilitator.

“You don't want to pour this stuff down your drain, it can congeal , block your pipes, and create a real mess. Dumping it in your yard isn't a good option either, it's harmful to the environment -- when it rains the oily residue runs off into the storm drain, eventually reaching our waterways without treatment.”

There will be two locations to dispose of your oil and grease in the Kelowna area: Westside Residential Disposal and Recycling Center in West Kelowna, or at the Glenmore Landfill in Kelowna.

If you have large volumes of cooking oil, you can pour it into the receptacles each location. If you have congealed grease, it's recommended you put it in a metal can or container and drop the whole metal container into the recycling receptacle provided.