Cooking oil is one of the most widely used products in the kitchen. From homes to restaurants and food companies, this one product is necessary to have on the shelves. Many people, however, do not know what to do with their used cooking oil and dispose of it in manners that are harmful to both the humans and the environment. Cooking oil recycling companies have not been in the market for a very long. The companies are however trying to change wrongful disposal of cooking oil by collecting it for recycling. With the recycled oil, the companies are producing eco-friendly products and at the same time saving the environment.

Also, read the Advantages and Disadvantages of Oil

Effects of not recycling used cooking oil

On many occasions, we do things without the knowledge of how our actions affect the environment. This goes for many things like leaving a plastic battle at the park, throwing a paper towel by the roadside and many others. Some of the items we dispose of so carelessly can become quality products through recycling. Disposing of used cooking oil wrongfully has the following negative effects:

• Clogging

When you pour your used oil into the sink, it goes down the drain and solidifies forming a hard substance that clogs the drains. Clogging of the drains may cause a flood in the kitchen.

• Costly

Once you have clogged pipes, the only solution is to have them cleaned up again. This will involve you calling up a plumber or a maintenance crew to come and unclog the pipes. It is a costly exercise and time wasting.

If the oil manages to find its way to the rivers and oceans, a crew to clean up the oil residue on the surface of the water becomes a necessity and another cost to the state. Clogging may also affect pipes, which in turn may lead to shortages of water.

• Contamination

When used oil mixes with other kitchen waste products like soaps and softeners, they form bacteria, which is harmful to the environment. Contaminated water is harmful to both humans and aquatic life.

• Bad Odor

Used cooking oil produces a rancid odor when it mixes with other products. People living near landfills may get very uncomfortable from this odour and it may lead to an outbreak.

• Kills useful bacteria

When oil gets into the soil, it isolates water, soil, and air. This, in turn, kills earthworms and other bacteria in the soil that are necessary for the regeneration of plants.

• Infestation of pests

Some pests like rats and other different vermin like to feed solidified cooking oil. If the waste from used cooking oil keeps piling up, so will the number of pests. This takes a toll on the pest control management and causes a grave health hazard to both humans and animals.

• Reduction of oxygen content

A layer of oil in water and other surfaces hinder the penetration of sunlight and reduce dissolved oxygen. This leads to the stifling of plants especially the aquatic ones due to poor photosynthesis. Lack of dissolved oxygen may also lead to death.

• Causes eutrophication

The microorganisms, algae, and phytoplankton that use UFO as their food sauce cause eutrophication, which depletes the oxygen supply leading to the death of marine life.

• Unsightly

The sight of used cooking oil disposed of wrongly, is unappealing. It lowers the status of a person, making them come out as untidy.

Wrapping it up

Besides being toxic if not properly disposed of, used cooking oil can limit future supplies of food. Habitats where animals feed and plants flourish become useless when coated with layers of used cooking oil. To avoid all this, cooking oil recycling is the only best option. In many states today, there are many companies buying cooking oil for recycling into better and quality products. What is even better is that you can make some money from selling your cooked oil.