For the sixth year, regional governments are partnering on Grease Recycling Day, the day after Thanksgiving gathering to be held this year on Friday, Nov. 26. It runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Friday at five locations. In the Northwest, grease may be recycled at Pima County Industrial Wastewater Control, 5025 W. Ina Road, a quarter-mile west of I-10. Each holiday season, grease recycling day serves as a reminder to properly dispose of used cooking grease. It can be used to produce a clean-burning substitute for diesel fuel. “Ordinary kitchen cooking grease build up can clog sewer pipes, reduce sewage flow and act as a magnet for other debris,” said Laura Hagen Fairbanks of the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department. “Eventually, build-up can clog lines and result in sanitary sewer overflows.” Grease “can be easily disposed of in much better ways and be used to produce biodiesel, a clean burning substitute for diesel fuel,” said Colleen Crowninshield, Tucson Clean Cities manager. “The diesel fuel can be used in any diesel engine and will help us to reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuel.” A year ago, more than 2,500 pounds of used cooking oil was collected. Since the first event in 2005, more than 9,300 pounds has been gathered. It’s all been converted into biodiesel and used in diesel engines in Pima County. Participants in Grease Recycling Day are the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, the Town of Sahuarita, Pima Association of Governments’ Clean Cities Program, Grecycle and EDG Fuels. Used cooking oil also can be recycled year-round. For information on drop-off locations, visit Grecycle’s Web site at www.grecycle.com, EDG’s site at www.edgroup.us, Pima Association of Governments’ Clean Cities Program site at www.pagnet.org, or the Pima County Household Hazardous Waste Program site at www.tucsonaz.gov/hhw.
Sunshine School in Oro Valley read more
Sunshine School
9000 N. Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85704, Suite 204
(520)742-6874
www.sunshineschooltucson.org/
