Where do Cooking fat, lard and dripping go?

Fat that is liquid in the pan is solid at drain temperature, which is the entire problem: it coats the inside of the pipe and every subsequent bit of debris sticks to it. Solidified fat is accepted by many food waste collections, since anaerobic digestion handles it well and it is energy-dense feedstock. Where there is no food waste collection it goes in general waste in a sealed tub. Running hot water or detergent after it does not help — it simply moves the blockage further down the pipe to somewhere more expensive. Whether small amounts of fat are accepted in a food waste caddy is a local decision, so check your council list.

How to prepare it

1. Pour into a heatproof tub and let it set.
2. Scrape cold fat off pans with a spatula into the food bin before washing up.
3. Use kitchen paper on the last film of grease.

What not to do

• Never pour fat down a sink — hot water only relocates the blockage.
• Never put liquid fat in a bin bag; it leaks through the bag.

Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.

Other things that go to food waste collection

• Food scraps and leftovers Food waste collection where you have one — it accepts cooked food, meat and dairy, unlike a home compost heap.
• Teabags Food waste or compost — but many bags are sealed with polypropylene, and that plastic mesh stays behind.
• Bones Food waste collection if you have one. Never a home compost heap.
• Coffee grounds Compost heap or food waste. Good material in both, in moderation.
• Eggshells Compost or food waste. Crush them first or they will still be recognisable next year.