Following the success of its two-month Residential Cooking Oil Curbside Collection pilot program, the Town of Cary is pleased to offer its citizens a full-time, safe disposal option for residential waste cooking oils; Cary residents can now collect their cooking oils, fats and grease in a sealable container and when at least a half gallon has been saved, contact the Town to schedule a pickup. The first of its kind known in the state, the program is aimed at reducing sewer blockages/over flows, accidental spills and disposals in landfills.

"Cary's curbside pickup program is another example of how the Town of Cary leads the state in preserving and protecting our natural resources," said Donald Smith, Utility Pretreatment Manager. Smith added that the collected cooking oils and grease will be recycled into an environmentally friendly and beneficial bio-fuel.

Residents wishing to participate in the program can follow these four simple steps to recycle their cooking oils:
1. Place waste cooking oils/grease in a sealable food container (no glass, please) such as the original container, a coffee can, or a soda bottle.
2. Label container "Waste Cooking Oil", and secure the cap/lid to prevent spillage.
3. Call the Public Works & Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090 to schedule a pick up for a minimum 1/2 gallon waste oils/grease 4. Place waste cooking oil at the curb by 7 a.m. on day of scheduled collection

The program follows a two-month pilot that the Town conducted from November 2008 through January 2009 to discourage improper disposal of cooking fats, oils and grease (FOG) in the sanitary sewer system and to reduce the number and severity of sanitary sewer overflows. In Cary, FOG contributed to 16 sewer overflows in 2006, six overflows in 2007, and nine sewer overflows in 2008 for a total of 20,726 gallons of untreated wastewater being discharged over the last three years because of FOG.

Oils collected curbside will be transported to the Town's Public Works and Utilities Operation Center for pick-up by a local commercial bio-diesel producer. The sealable containers will be recycled whenever possible.

For more, visit Fats, Oils and Grease Control at http://www.townofcary.org/grease.