Green Tips #14 – School Project Example: Recycling Used Cooking Oil

By Jason Giovannettone, Director of Climate and Sustainability for the Sisters of Mercy

February’s Green Tip focused on selecting a pilot project for your school’s eco-action plan. One example of such a project (more to come in future tips) would be to encourage your school to recycle their kitchen’s used cooking oil and grease.

Did You Know?

• Restaurants and other commercial kitchens pour between about 800 and 17,000 pounds of grease each into the sewer system each year. (source)
• Grease from commercial (including schools) and residential kitchens have in the past led to almost 50% of reported sewer blockages. (source)
• Used cooking oil and kitchen fats can be collected and used to create biofuel, which is a renewable and clean energy source.

What Can Your School Do?

Your school can recycle their grease and used cooking oil through a grease management company. And some companies will even pay for your oil and grease! Examples include Baker Commodities, Buffalo Biodiesel, MOPAC, Mahoney Environmental, D&W Alternative Energy, and many others depending on your school’s location.

What Can I Do at Home?

A quick internet search should reveal local resources for dropping off used cooking oil and grease from your home. Feel free to contact us at mercyedu@sistersofmercy.org if you need help in finding a drop off location near you.

For more information on sustainability topics, please visit Jason’s blog, Green Xpectations.