Disposing of lots of bottled sauces/dressings

Really need to clean the fridge out of old expired sauces and dressings, etc. Talking 10 to 20 jars/bottles.

In the past I've poured them down the kitchen sink, rinsed the jars and recycled, but that has led to an oft clogged sink. I'm considering dumping them in the toilet, or burying outside or just chucking the stuff (jars and all) in the garbage. (My nephew is of the mind that all the soap, hot water and subsequent Liquid Plumber involved in rising and recycling may just outweigh any benefit.)


What to do?

I occasionally just pitch things like this because the amount of water use and plumbing risk just don't merit the recycling value.  I figure that getting 95+ percent of our recyclables into the bin will have to do.

Empty them into the trash.

Sometimes I will pour the contents into a plastic bag (the ones you put your veggies in at the grocery store), put the bag into the fridge until garbage day, and then add to the garbage.  A quick rinse of the container and then it goes into recycling.  

In olden times I would empty the contents into the sink, add a bit of detergent and run way too much water to assure it cleared the trap.

just throw the bottle into the trash. Way too messy to pour them out, rinse. Not all 10 this week but 1 or 2 over next few garbage days. Make up for it by recycling better in other ways the rest of the month!

Glass or plastic containers?  if glass, make sure they are placed in a protective container in case they break in the trash.

would the dishwasher dispose of it appropriately?  it supposedly has waste disposal..at least mine does

Just curious....does anyone here fry with oil, and then not know what to do with it?

I put it in a coffee can in the freezer and put it in the garbage when the can is full.

gerryl said:

Just curious....does anyone here fry with oil, and then not know what to do with it?

Liquid oil can go down the drain. Bacon grease may require special treatment.

As for containers, I consider it my civic duty to clean them and recycle them. On days when I'm shamefully lazy, I put them in recycling without cleaning them.

Tom_Reingold said:

On days when I'm shamefully lazy, I put them in recycling without cleaning them.

I have done this on occasion too, especially with old shampoo/conditioner bottles...

I usually take shredded paper from the shredder, empty it out into the kitchen trash and dump liquids into that. Sometimes I'll quickly hand wash bottles, etc. or I'll stick them in the dishwasher with the other mess. We have indoor and outdoor recycle bins and when I don't wash bottles, cans, etc., the smell can be overwhelming. Best to wash 'em. 

Tom_Reingold said:

Liquid oil can go down the drain. Bacon grease may require special treatment.

As for containers, I consider it my civic duty to clean them and recycle them. On days when I'm shamefully lazy, I put them in recycling without cleaning them.

We often save bacon grease.  It's a wonderful thing to sauté things in. (Blanch some haricots verts, shock them, then a quick sauté in bacon fat on high, pull from the heat, finely crumble Roquefort on top so some melts, serve asap.)

Quick find  the signal .   This is a job for Defcon.

Aren't containers required to be rinsed (more or less) clean before they go into recycling?  

sac said:

Aren't containers required to be rinsed (more or less) clean before they go into recycling?  

I think that's what we're discussing.

BTW, Maplewood recycling has a container for used cooking oil; we collect ours in a sealed plastic jug at home and then drop it there.

husky brand black contracor sized trash bag, problem solved. 

Hmmm...too bad I live in South Orange....As for bacon grease...I grew up in the South, so I know about the deliciousness of pork fat for seasoning. but we don't eat much bacon. And, mostly I saute in OO or canola or some variation. I rarely deep fry. For the few times I do, I know the grease won't be re-usable...like the way my mother used to save the lard after frying...way back in the day.