Frying a Turkey this Thanksgiving? Don't Forget to Recycle the Oil!

RECYCLE USED COOKING OIL AT RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY

            JOHNSTON, R.I. (June 22, 2010) – Starting immediately, Rhode Island Resource Recovery will be accepting used cooking oil at the Central Landfill in Johnston.  The service is free for Rhode Island households. 

RIRRC has placed two 55-gallon drums in the small vehicle drop-off area, which is where they accept small loads of household waste, recycling, tires, appliances and motor oil.  

“This is yet another material for which we offer a disposal alternative for Rhode Islanders,” said Sarah Kite, director of recycling services at RIRRC.  “Instead of throwing the oil in the trash, which is messy, or pouring it down the drain, which is dreadful for plumbing, people can bring it to RIRRC for recycling.”

RIRRC is working with Newport Biodiesel, a Rhode Island company, to dispose of the oil dropped off in Johnston.  The company will use the oil to produce a clean-burning and sustainable fuel from vegetable oil waste.

 “This service is another good example of finding creative solutions for converting waste products into new products with new uses,” said Kite. “Here, cooking oil is prevented from hurting the environment by reusing it as an alternative fuel source that can improve our economy as well.”

Customers can simply pour the cooking oil into the 55-gallon drums, and then Rhode Island Resource Recovery will recycle the containers used to carry the used vegetable, corn and olive oil to the recycling area.

The Central Landfill is open Mondays through Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to noon.  For information about recycling, visit the Rhode Island Resource Recovery website at www.rirrc.org, or call 942-1430 x775.

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the quasi-state environmental agency dedicated to providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage waste. The agency helps fund and promote the state’s recycling program, and owns and operates the Materials Recycling Facility and Central Landfill in Johnston.

 - ### -