The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, Town of Sahuarita, Pima Association of Governments’ Clean Cities Program, Grecycle and EDG Fuels will partner once again to host the sixth annual Day– After–Thanksgiving Grease Recycling Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, November 26, the day after Thanksgiving.

This effort is held each holiday season to remind everyone to properly dispose of used cooking grease and that the grease can be used to produce a clean burning substitute for diesel fuel.

“Ordinary kitchen cooking grease buildup 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, buildup can clog lines and result in sanitary sewer overflows.”

“This 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.”

Used cooking oil will be collected at five sites around the community. The 2009 event collected more than 2,500 pounds of used cooking oil and more than 9,300 pounds since the first event, held in 2005. This grease was converted into biodiesel and used in diesel engines in Pima County.

This year’s five grease recycling sites include:

East-O’Reilly Chevrolet
6160 E. Broadway Blvd.
(one block west of Wilmot Rd.)

Northwest-Pima County
Industrial Wastewater Control
5025 W. Ina Rd. (1/4 mile west of I-10)

South-City of Tucson Water Plant #2
1102 W. Irvington Rd.
(west of I-19 on Irvington; turn right at first light into Water Plant #2, across from the street from Mc Donald’s)

Sam Hughes Championship Dining
(vacant lot at northeast corner of Campbell Ave. and Sixth St.)

Town of Sahuarita Park & Ride Parking Lot
375 W. Sahuarita Center Way

Used cooking oil also can be recycled year-round. For information on drop-off locations, visit Grecycle, EDG Fuels, Pima Association of Governments’ Clean Cities Program, or the Pima County Household Hazardous Waste Program.