‘I’m a binman — this is how you dispose of oil and it’s not food bin’

For those of us that cook a lot at home, there’s one kitchen scrap that can be very problematic if it’s not disposed of correctly. Used cooking oil can be a bit confusing to get rid of, especially if you’ve got a lot of it. 

It’s common knowledge that it should not be poured down the sink under any circumstances, because it can harden up quickly and cause blockages that are pricey to fix. You might think that putting it in the food bin is the obvious alternative. But according to one binman on social media, this is actually incorrect too.

The No1 Binman on TikTok, a self-proclaimed ‘binfluencer’, often shares helpful videos for Brits to get to grips with what you can and can’t throw away. Most of his videos are based on questions he’s been asked, and he recently weighed in on the debate over where you should dispose of used cooking oil.

Down the sink is the obvious wrong answer, but according to the pro, the food bin is a no-no as well. He said: “Used cooking oil should go in your general waste. 

“Do not put it in the food waste, and definitely not the recycling bin.”

The pro explained that you shouldn’t pour the oil directly into the bin, because this could cause issues with the bag. He said: “If you can, put it in a container or something that can’t be recycled and then put it in your general waste. It stops it from going anywhere in case a bag splits.”

A carton or a jar is a good example of a container you can use, and make sure it’s sealable too. 

However, there is an exception to this rule that the bin man highlighted. He said: “If you’ve got loads of it, like commerical, then no it doesn’t go in your general bin. You’d have to either contact your council or get someone else to come and collect it.

“But if it’s just like a normal family-sized amount of cooking oil, then it’ll just go in your general waste.”

If you want to get even more use out of your old cooking oil, the experts at Zero Waste Scotland have suggested some simple ways to recycle it. 

You can brush it onto your garden shed or fence as a creosote alternative, since it won’t discolour the wood and it’s safe to use near plants and animals.

Alternatively, you can also use cooking fat from chicken or bacon to make a treat for garden birds. Pour it into a pot, add bird seeds and nuts, leave to set, then hang up outside for them to feed on.