The City of Raleigh is now providing curbside collection of cooking oil and grease in a pilot program designed to help prevent sewer overflows. Raleigh residents can now dispose of these products by leaving them at the curb along with their garbage, recycling and yard waste. The collection effort will continue until January 15.
There is no charge for the collections; however the service is not available to commercial establishments in Raleigh. To arrange for a curbside pickup, call the City’s Solid Waste Services Department at 996-6890. The oil and grease must be placed in a sealable (and preferably clear container) marked as “cooking oil.” Place the containers with grease or cooking oil on the curb on the designated weekly trash collection day after calling to arrange for curbside collection. Examples of containers that can be used are milk jugs, juice cartons with screw-on caps, coffee cans or the cooking oil’s original non-glass container. Glass containers will not be accepted.
The City hopes that by collecting these materials, it can protect the environment by keeping cooking oil and grease out of the City’s sewer system and preventing sewer overflows. The pilot program will be a joint effort of the City of Raleigh’s Public Utilities, Solid Waste Services and Public Affairs departments and Triangle Biofuels Industries Inc. Triangle Biofuels will reimburse the City 25 cents for each gallon of cooking oil or animal grease collected, and convert the material to biofuels.
Motor oil and other petroleum products will not be accepted and should continue to be taken to Wake County’s drop-off facilities at 9037 Deponie Drive in Raleigh or 6130 Old Smithfield Road in Apex.
Prepared by:
David Blount
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Linda A. Leighton
Waste Reduction Specialist
Solid Waste Services Department
400 West Peace Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-996-6890
