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Original poster

To wonder how to get rid of liquid fat?

165 replies

CarlaH · 11/07/2026 11:29

We keep being told not to pour oil or liquid fat down the sink because it causes problems for the water companies.

How are we meant to dispose of it? Googling says we should put it into a glass or plastic container and throw it into the main waste but we are supposed to recycle those things aren't we?

I don't have suitable empty glass or plastic containers just lying around and I certainly don't have plastic containers with lids apart from the ones I want to keep like Tupperware.

What do most people do with it?

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 11/07/2026 15:31

Wait for it to cool, wipe it up with a piece of kitchen paper, chuck it in the bin (I’m talking about a small amount in the bottom of the air fryer).

deeahgwitch · 11/07/2026 15:28

@CarlaH please don’t bung it down the sink. A fat ball can be created which is bery problematic for the sewage works under your house plus it is so non environmentally friendly !
Fecking up the water. In recent years I have become very aware of what I put down the sink. The amount of water on Earth is finite.
Because of the water cycle we really need to treasure our water and not pollute it.

beadystar · 11/07/2026 15:17

I don’t have lots of liquid fat but when I do, I pour it into tinfoil, add seeds and make fat balls for the birds. That’s more of a winter thing though, the rest of the time I wipe it off with kitchen roll which then goes into the food waste bin.

Happyjoe · 11/07/2026 15:04

CarlaH · 11/07/2026 11:34

What prompted the post was some liquid we poured from a slow cooked pork dish. It's usually not that much and I mostly tended to get very hot water and loads of washing up liquid and let it go down the sink but apparently we shouldn't be doing that.

Show quote history

Will the pork fat not solidify when cold?
Anyway, perhaps raid the recycle bin for a container, or in future keep one to hand.

likelysuspect · 11/07/2026 15:02

We dont have solid fats, ours is all olive or sunflower/veg oil, so it just goes in the main bin

parietal · 11/07/2026 14:59

we have the council food bin. If the bin is already part full with some bread or similar absorbent food, I pour the oil on top. Or otherwise I’ll pour it in an old grotty mug in the fridge and then empty the mug into the food bin later.

Yetone · 11/07/2026 14:39

Mop it up with kitchen towel and put it in the bin.
If I have out of date bread/flour/ cornflour etc then I Save it to put in the food waste before I pour oil/fat in.

Marinaseahorse · 11/07/2026 14:06

CarlaH · 11/07/2026 11:34

What prompted the post was some liquid we poured from a slow cooked pork dish. It's usually not that much and I mostly tended to get very hot water and loads of washing up liquid and let it go down the sink but apparently we shouldn't be doing that.

Show quote history

I would put a few sheets of kitchen roll in to speak up the fat which you can bin, then wash as normal. That’s what I do when I fry things like bhajis.

KnottyKnitting · 11/07/2026 14:04

I put it in a cup to congeal in the fridge then dump it in my food waste bin. Do they not collect food waste where you live?

Original poster
CarlaH · 11/07/2026 13:59

singthing · 11/07/2026 13:41

Just use flour. Warm/liquid oil, add it slowly, mix it in and it will quickly clump up.

Don't go spending money on special products.

Show quote history

This sounds a good idea. I always have flour and plenty of it.

Thanks.

OP posts:
singthing · 11/07/2026 13:41

CarlaH · 11/07/2026 11:35

That's interesting. I don't suppose you have a link?

Show quote history

Just use flour. Warm/liquid oil, add it slowly, mix it in and it will quickly clump up.

Don't go spending money on special products.

BigMartin · 11/07/2026 13:19

Pour it into an empty milk container and put it in the bin if a large amount. If a small amount absorb it with kitchen roll and put it in the bin. If you have cat litter maybe mix it with that.

Serenwib · 11/07/2026 12:54

We don't have much but it gets tipped into the food bin, which is lined with a compostable bag. The small amount of fat just mixes in with the vegetable peelings etc.

Dollymylove · 11/07/2026 12:45

Oldraver · 11/07/2026 12:08

We don't have lots of liquid fat but know what you mean about fat after cooking (ribs are bad for this)

We keep a plastic box in the freezer lwith a food bag in, if we have any liquid we chuck bread crusts in the bottom and pour it onto that, then 0op back in the freezer until bin day

The wild birds would go crazy for that, especially in winter when food is scarse

Theyreeatingthedogs · 11/07/2026 12:39

Our garden and kitchen waste go into the same wheelie bin. When the wheelie bin is full I pour the oil or fat in there.

Chasingsquirrels · 11/07/2026 12:29

My council website says:

  • Cooking fats: Food waste, but don't put liquid or cooking oil into the food waste.
  • Cooking oil: General rubbish.
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/07/2026 12:29

I rarely have very much, so I just mop it up with kitchen roll and put it in the general waste. Or, as a pp said, it’ll go into a Bird Pudding in winter - any fat, any scraps of solid fat, bacon rind etc., any crumbs or crusts, dry porridge oats, probably some dried fruit, and lard, if there’s not enough fat to hold it all together. Melt all the fat, stir everything else in, pack into a basin to cool and set. The birds will thank you!

FinallyHere · 11/07/2026 12:27

The fat that is rendered from duck, goose or pork belly/ribs gets recycled here into the most delicious roast potatoes, or fat to brown a joint or start a stir fry.

We meal plan so it would be kept in a container in the fridge and used up within in a day or two.

Especially duck fat is at least 50% monounsaturated, quite delicious and healthy for the heart.

gingermice · 11/07/2026 12:24

Same as the poster above, I pour it into a small plastic/freezer bag and bin it.

Pickledonion1999 · 11/07/2026 12:23

we pour into a little pot. Let it solidify then wrap up and put in the bin.

dementedpixie · 11/07/2026 12:22

I pour it into a freezer bag and bin it

AquaWhichIsFrenchForWater · 11/07/2026 12:20

I pour it into a bowl, let it solidify then scoop it out into the general waste.

Although, with the current heat, the contents of the bowl has turned into a liquid again.
The cat keeps trying to drink it (she knows not to get on the counter, but liquid lard is clearly too tempting for her!) so I’m about to shove the bowl in the freezer, then throw it out for the birds this evening.

swoopandscream · 11/07/2026 12:20

Pour into old egg box and put it into the food waste bin for collection. Line the bin with a bit of cardboard or newspaper in case it leaks a bit.

Lomonald · 11/07/2026 12:18

shellyleppard · 11/07/2026 11:31

Put a bit of tin foil in the plug hole. Pour the fat in. When it sets scrunch up and chuck it in the bin?

Yes this is usually what i do , i get we are encouraged to recycle @CarlaH but putting some fat in a food tray or bottle isn't going to impact the environment that much.

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