Never pour fats, oils and grease down the drain

Cooking a holiday feast? Remember to safely dispose of leftover fats, oils and grease – do not pour these substances down the sink or toilet!

Fats, oils and grease – such as butter, olive oil, gravy and meat fat – can clog pipes if they are poured down the drain. This can lead to sewer backups, which can cause flooding in your and your neighbours’ homes and possible environmental concerns.

Where to safely dispose of fats, oils and grease

Let fats, oils and grease cool and harden, then scrape them into the green bin. To cool, leave the liquid in the pan or pour it into a container, such as a can or bowl. Alternatively, wipe the substance with a paper towel and toss it into the green bin. Ensure all oils are fully cooled and hardened before disposal; liquid cooking oil is not accepted curbside. 

You can also drop off leftover cooking oils (no more than four litres) in a tightly sealed container to a York Region waste depot for safe disposal. The Vaughan location is at 130 McCleary Crt. Visit york.ca/WasteDepots for more information. 

To learn about the City of Vaughan’s sewer system, visit vaughan.ca/wastewater.

Need help disposing of other materials?

Use the City’s online ‘What Goes Where?’ sorting tool so you can quickly and easily check where a waste item belongs. You can also download the Recycle Coach app through the Apple App Store or Google Play to check where waste items belong. The app provides waste-less tips and a personalized collection schedule with optional alerts on what to set at the curb. For more information on waste services, visit vaughan.ca/waste.

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