Disposing of Fats, Cooking Oil and Grease

Don't pour fats, oil or grease down the drain or toilet. It clogs your pipes and our sewer system. It's important residents use the correct disposal method for their fats, oil and grease.

How to dispose

Solid fats / grease

For any quantity of solid fats or grease, such as lard, butter and bacon fat, place in the Green Bin for curbside collection or bring to a drop-off facility.

Liquid oil and grease

Tiny amounts (500 ml or less), such as from a frying pan: Absorb with paper towel, newspaper, kitty litter or sawdust and place in your Green Bin for curbside collection
Small amounts (1 litre or less), such as small deep fryers and salad dressings: Put in a container and freeze. Remove from container and place frozen grease in your Green Bin for curbside collection.
Large amounts (more than 1 litre), such as large deep fryers: Bring to a drop-off facility

Drop-off facilities

Video: Protect your pipes

Sewer Use By-Law

Niagara Region and area municipalities monitor local sewer systems and enforce Niagara Region's Sewer Use By-Law.

This includes commercial and industrial discharges of fats, oil and grease into the system.

Effects of fats, oil and grease on the sewer system

Fats, oil and grease are present in many foods, including:

Meat
Salad dressing
Butter
Lard
Shortening
Dairy products
Left over oil from a deep fryer

As these materials cool, they become solid, potentially clogging sewer pipes in your home and in our sewer pipes. These clogs can lead your sinks and toilet to stop draining correctly and eventually cause sewer backups in the floor, toilet and shower.

Blocked sewer lines can also contribute to the volume of combined sewer overflows throughout Niagara.