At the Creston Landfill, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will soon pilot recycling of used cooking oil into a higher end-use product.
The project is in partnership with Leduc Industrial Inc., a Cranbrook-based business that provides cooking oil collection services for commercial businesses, restaurants, and residents. Leduc will collect the cooking oil, diverting it from sewers and landfills and converting it into a safe, non-toxic concrete release agent for the construction industry.
"Simple actions, such as recycling cooking oil instead of pouring it down the drain, can significantly protect our wastewater infrastructure and the environment," said Ferdinand Schmidt, the director of infrastructure services for the Town of Creston.
The pilot program will start March 15 and run until Oct. 31, at which point staff will report to the RDCK board on its effectiveness and make recommendations on continuing or expanding into other areas of the district.
A 2024 survey of both businesses providing commercial food services within the RDCK found only 60 per cent of those surveyed were using cooking oil collection services. Some of the barriers to proper disposal were attributed to a lack of storage space and the availability of a disposal service.
It is likely that much of this cooking oil is being dumped with garbage or down the drain, which creates problems such as damage to landfill equipment, sewer system blockages and overflows, pollution of groundwater and rivers, and creation of more greenhouse gases.
"This program will be a win for everyone," said Amy Wilson, RDCK resource recovery manager.
"Not only will this oil get a second life as a product for the construction industry, it will also help our landfill operations. Sometimes customers place used cooking oil in with their garbage, and I get there aren’t a lot of disposal options, but cooking oil can damage equipment and increase fire risk."
Residents are urged to dispose of cooking oil responsibly, especially as it is free of charge to those in the Creston area, with a limit of 10 litres per day.
Disposals will be supervised by landfill staff, during regular business owners at the Creston Landfill, to ensure contaminants are kept out. Only cooking oil is eligible for this program, and other substances such as motor oil, hardened bacon fat, and antifreeze will not be accepted.
For more information visit www.rdck.ca/cookingoil.
