Schools

Bloom Science Teacher Collecting Thanksgiving Cooking Oil for Recycling

There are more productive things to do with that oil than tossing it in the trash.

A Bloom High School teacher and local biodiesel producer has a message for Thanksgiving cooks: Don’t throw away the used cooking oil.

Physics teacher Barry Latham will be collecting used vegetable oil to recycle after the Thanksgiving holiday.  

"This is a perfect opportunity to dispose of cooking oil in a very responsible manner," Latham said.  "It must be vegetable oil and a liquid at room temperature; no animal grease or fat," he said.   Latham suggests that the cooking oil is brought to Bloom in its original container and the container is sealed.

The cooking oil collection will take place twice on Monday, Nov. 28, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dixie Highway entrance to Bloom High School in Chicago Heights. 

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A pickup may be possible depending on the location and volume of oil.  For additional information, Latham may be contacted at the following email address: blatham@sd206.org

 "Persons who drop off oil will receive a free 12-ounce bottle of liquid all-purpose soap and degreaser," Latham said.  "It is a co-product of producing biodiesel fuel and very biodegradable. This soap works on hair, skin, clothes, dishes, etc.’’

Latham and his students have been converting used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel as an alternative energy educational project.     

-Submitted by Steven Modzelewski

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