Richland County reminds residents to recycle fat, oil and grease – and to avoid pouring these substances down the drain.

Used cooking oil is accepted at three County recycling sites:

• Richland County C&D Landfill, 1070 Caughman Road North in Columbia
• The Lower Richland Drop-off Site, 10531 Garners Ferry Road in Eastover
• Clemson Road Recycling Site, 900 Clemson Road in Northeast Richland County

Residents should transport oil in suitable containers and pour it into the 50-gallon drums at the sites. 

Known collectively as FOG, fat oil and grease can cause major and costly damage to sewer pipes when poured down sink drains. Pouring FOG down the drain may appear harmless, but it can stick to sewer pipes and build up over time. In addition, other things washed down the drain or garbage disposal, such as coffee grounds, hair and food particles, get caught up in FOG leading to bigger, more troublesome clogs.

FOG should not be put into recycling bins for home pickup. Also, avoid pouring used oil outside onto the ground where it can make its way to storm drains, and eventually waterways.

If you can’t get to a recycling site, freeze or refrigerate FOG until it solidifies and then scrape into the regular trash. But the easiest and most environmentally friendly solution to ridding your home of FOG is to bring it to a County collection site.

For more information about properly disposing of cooking oil in Richland County, call 929-6000.