Westmont, Illinois - Date Issued: November 16, 2020
Residents are encouraged to recycle their used cooking oil at the Downers Grove Sanitary District on Saturday, November 28, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. To recycle your used cooking oil, (no bacon grease or other solid animal fats will be accepted), allow it to cool, pour it into a container with a lid, and bring your used cooking oil to the Downers Grove Sanitary District located at 2710 Curtiss Street in Downers Grove.
Area residents are encouraged to recycle their used cooking oil instead of pouring it down the drain or disposing of it in the garbage. When fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are poured down the drain, they may harden in your pipes or sewer lines and potentially cause a blockage and sewer backup. FOG comes from meats, butter, cooking oil, lard, sauces, dressings, and dairy products. Even if hot water is running when it goes down the drain, cooking oils and fats solidify as soon as they reach cold pipes.
In addition to the one day event November 28, cooking oil can be dropped off in a sealed container at the Downers Grove Sanitary District during regular business hours. The Downers Grove Sanitary District has partnered with the Village of Westmont’s Environmental Improvement Commission (EIC) and SCARCE, a local environmental non-profit organization, to be a permanent collection site for used cooking oil.
TiPS FOR HANDLING FOG:
- For larger amounts of grease or animal fat, which can solidify at room temperature, allow it to cool and pour into a plastic container with a lid. Store it under the sink until it’s full, then place it in the trash.
- When cleaning up, scrape leftover food into the trash, don’t send it down the sink. This saves water and prevents trace fats from clogging your pipes.
- After allowing pans to cool, wipe them out with a rag or paper towel before you wash them to remove excess fat and oil.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Sewer line maintenance tips - dgsd.org
SCARCE website - scarce.org
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