Home » News » Press Releases » 2005 » Plano’s Fried Turkey Grease Helps Fuel the Metroplex

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2005 Contact: Shannon Unruh Environmental Waste Services Phone: (972) 769-4132 Plano’s Fried Turkey Grease Helps Fuel the Metroplex Fluctuating gas prices have been frustrating this year, but did you know that your leftover turkey fryer oil can help? The City of Plano wants to collect your turkey fryer oil and any other vegetable cooking oil for recycling into biodegradable renewable fuel. Pouring cooking oil down the drain, tossing it in a trash truck or pouring it down the storm inlet where it enters creeks and ultimately our drinking water source is simply not an option anymore. “As citizens realize that improper disposal of household chemicals is not only dangerous for the environment, but that it directly affects their drinking water source, they recognize it as an increasingly outdated disposal method,” said Shannon Unruh, Plano’s Household Chemical Education Coordinator. Recycling cooking oil is an innovative approach to replacing petroleum diesel fuel, while helping the environment. Not only is biodiesel fuel non-toxic and biodegradable, but this ‘cleaner’ fuel significantly improves air quality. “Biodiesel fuel offers an opportunity for Texas to replace the oil fields of the Middle East with vegetable oil fields right here at home,” said Joe Jobe, executive director of the National Biodiesel Board. The City of Plano Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program will pick up used holiday cooking oil from turkey fryers and donate it to Biodiesel Industries, Inc. – Texas’ first renewable energy-powered plant producing biodiesel fuel. Cooking oil needs to be placed in rigid plastic containers, labeled, and secured with screw top lids for transporting. Schedule a collection by contacting Environmental Waste Services Customer Services at 972-769-4150.