Oils from labs and small equipment

Environmental Health & Safety accepts oils from laboratories and small equipment.

Vehicle oil

Go to Vehicle waste procedures.

Oils, fats and grease from food preparation

Oils, fats, and grease from food preparation come from sources including cooking oil, butter, gravy, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Never pour them down the drain or toilet because they can build up in sewer pipes and cause blockages and backups. They cannot be recycled or composted and must be put in the trash.

To dispose of fats, oils, and grease from food preparation:

  • Use paper towels to wipe grease off of dishes and containers before washing; put the paper towels into the garbage
  • Pour fats, oils, and grease into a container and store it in the freezer; after the material has hardened, put the container in the garbage

Cooking oil from Housing and Food Services and UWMC kitchens is captured by kitchen staff and then collected by SeQuential, a Northwest company that produces renewable diesel fuel from recycled vegetable oils.