UK Happenings

Recycle Thanksgiving Cooking Oil at the Gobble Grease Toss

Cooking oil will be converted to biofuels by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER).

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 22) — Are you frying your Thanksgiving turkey this year? Recycle your used cooking oil for free at the Gobble Grease Toss.

The Gobble Grease Toss will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, at Redwood Cooperative School. The school is located on the same campus as Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church at 3534 Tates Creek Rd. Cooking oil will be used by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER), with additional cooking oil recycled by Kelley Green Biofuel.

“Redwood Cooperative School is very excited to host the annual Gobble Grease Toss and to provide a way for our community to recycle another common household item,” said Sarah Cummins, a school parent. “We embrace this opportunity to be environmental stewards and support renewable energy science."

Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez with CAER explains that they will use the oil for “a project sponsored by the National Science Foundation in which a novel technology to convert vegetable oils and animals fats to diesel and jet-fuel is being developed.”

Never pour oil or grease down sink drains. It can solidify and clog pipes in your home. Oil and grease can even clog the city sewer lines, leading to sanitary sewer overflows — the discharge of untreated sewage into streets, yards and creeks.

Cooking oil may also be disposed by hardening it in the refrigerator and placing it in your green trash cart.

The Gobble Grease Toss is free for all Fayette County residents (no businesses, please). Citizens should bring the oil in a disposable container with a lid.

For more information on the Gobble Grease Toss, call LexCall at 311 or 859-425-2255 or visit www.LexingtonKY.gov/LiveGreen.