Living in the south, where love for fried foods and gravy runs deep, can be hard on the diet—and on pipes, sewer systems, and ecosystems. When fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are washed down the drain, they stick to the inside of pipes, hardening and building up until they cause clogs and sewer backups. This can cause sewage to overflow into homes, streets, and local waterways. Whether the repairs are in your home or in the street, it can be costly and inconvenient.

Rather than washing grease down the drain, Dorchester County encourages residents to safely dispose of fryer oil and cooking grease at one of twelve convenience sites, throughout the County.

The collected cooking oil and grease will be recycled into biodiesel or biogas, which reduces landfill waste and produces an alternative fuel that is clean and green. 

How to Properly Dispose of Cooking Oil/Grease

When you have finished cooking, collect liquid grease and oils in a sealable container that can be taken to your nearest Convenience Site to be recycled.

For the grease that cannot be poured into the container, wipe pans clean with a paper towel and put it in the trash. Food scraps that can be composted should, while all remaining scraps go in the trash. Scrape off excess food from pots, pans, and plates before rinsing them in the sink with cold water.

Where to Properly Dispose of Cooking Oil/Grease

Twelve of the fourteen Convenience Sites accept used cooking oil/grease. The Miles Rd. and Sand Pines sites do not accept used cooking oil/grease.

Convenience Sites Hours of Operations (Excluding Holidays)

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday: Closed
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

What Not To Do

Never dispose of cooking oil/grease in the woods or backyard. When waste cooking oil is dumped in backyards, it can find its way into the natural waterways, harming fish and other aquatic life. 

Never pour cooking oil/grease down the sink. When FOG goes down the drain, it hardens and causes sewer pipes to clog. This can lead to a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) where raw sewage actually backs up into your home, lawn, neighborhood, and streets. The unsanitary conditions can cause health issues and it can run into a nearby stream or river, which affects our drinking water. If your pipes become clogged from putting FOG down the drain, it can be a very expensive problem to fix. To avoid household and environmental damage as well as a costly bill, never put FOG down the drain.