Cooking grease to become bio-fuel in Cary

Officials in Cary recently launched a pilot program that provides curbside pickup of used cooking oil and grease. The used oil and grease will be recycled into environmentally beneficial bio-fuel.

Posted 1:45 a.m. Nov 28, 2008 — Updated 3:55 a.m. Nov 28, 2008

CARY, N.C. — One North Carolina town wants residents to leave used cooking oil on the curb.

Officials in Cary recently launched a pilot program that provides curbside pickup of used cooking oil and grease. They want to keep residents from dumping grease down their kitchen drains, which clogs pipes and has helped cause nearly two dozen sewer overflows since 2006.

“Some folks just aren’t aware of the potential problems that cooking oils and greases can have in their sewer system,” Cary Public Works and Utilities Pretreatment Technician Donald Smith said.

Cary residents can dispose of large quantities of cooking oil and grease by appointment until Jan. 30, 2009.

To participate in the program citizens should call the Public Works and Utilities Customer Service line at 919-469-4090 to schedule the free pickup. A minimum half-gallon of oils and grease are required prior to collection.

The disposable liquids must be placed in a sealable food container with a lid and labeled as “Waste Cooking Oil.”

Any oil or grease left at the curb during regular collection days without a scheduled appointment will be tagged with a letter to contact Public Works.

City officials are hoping to collect 200 gallons of grease during the program. The used oil and grease will be given to Triangle Biofuels in Wilson for recycling.

"We just think it's a good way of recycling and reusing," Smith said.

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