While You’re at It: Your Empty Cooking Oil Bottles

After our clients recycle their used cooking oil, one of the most commonly asked questions we receive is what to do with their empty cooking oil bottles. Recycling these containers is just as important as recycling your cooking oil, but you can’t just simply toss them into the recycling bin. You can safely recycle them by following Mahoney’s steps for cooking oil bottle recycling.

#1 – Recycle your used cooking oil

If you’ve been using your cooking oil bottle to collect your used cooking oil, be sure to sign up for regular used cooking oil collection services from Mahoney. If you’ve been collecting your used cooking oil in a different container, you still need to ensure the used oil is safely disposed of and that the original bottle is recycled correctly.

#2 – Thoroughly clean your container

Before attempting cooking oil bottle recycling, you must ensure every drop of oil has been safely removed from the container in a manner that does not carry negative consequences on the environment. This is because when oil bottles are improperly cleaned, oil can wind up in drain systems, clogging plumbing lines and potentially seeping into the storm water system and environment.

To recycle your cooking oil’s container, ensure it is completely clean by doing the following:

• Turn over the bottle over a paper towel to collect any large amounts of remaining oil.
• Fill the container with sawdust, cat litter, flour, sand or another absorbent material.
• Put the lid onto the container and shake it to spread the materials evenly and absorb any remaining oil. Do not mix with water.
• Dispose of paper towels and other materials used for absorption in the trash.
• Once your container is empty and oil free, give it a rinse in the sink.

#3 – Recycle or reuse your container

Before placing it in the recycling, you’ll have to see if your local municipality accepts the kind of plastic your bottle is made from. Since most oil bottles are made from number one plastic, which is clear, they are commonly accepted at the recycling plant. However, you should ensure your empty oil container will be accepted by doing the following:

• Look on the bottom or side of your container for the type of plastic it’s made from.
• Find the recycling symbol, also known as the resin identification code, and look at the number inside of it.
• Contact your local recycling program to inquire if they accept that type of plastic.

What if they can’t recycle your type of used cooking oil container? You can reuse or repurpose them, which is even more environmentally friendly. You can continue to store used cooking oil for recycling or try any number of do-it-yourself projects, such as organizing your tools or filling it with dirt for use as a starter bed for plants.

Living Sustainably

It takes just a few minutes to thoroughly clean out these containers to make them suitable for cooking oil bottle recycling. Whether you choose to reuse your bottles or toss them in your recycling bin, taking these measures to ensure oils don’t make their way into the water supply and environment is just one step towards living a sustainable lifestyle. At Mahoney, we practice what we preach by transforming your used cooking oil into our eco-friendly renewable fuel, an emission-free alternative to petroleum diesel. For more information, contact Mahoney today.