Used cooking oil in Lexington County can have second life as biodiesel

For those planning on frying turkeys or other Thanksgiving dishes in Lexington County, the cooking oil can have a second life.

Lexington County is collecting used cooking oil throughout the year and several locations.

The county gives the used cooking oil to Green Energy Biofuel, which is a South Carolina business that turns it into biodiesel, according to a news release from the County of Lexington. Biodiesel is a non-toxic and biodegradable fuel can then be used to run diesel engines.

Disposing of oil down drains can damage plumbing and septic systems and dumping it outside can be detrimental to waterways and aquatic life, the release stated.

Lexington County Collection and Recycle centers are open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The centers are closed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and July 4, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Cooking oil can be dropped off at the following locations:

▪ 301 Ball Park Road, Lexington

▪ 6109 Bush River Road, Columbia

▪ 103 Distant Lane, Chapin

▪ 325 Landfill Lane, Lexington

▪ 125 Beulah Church Road, Gilbert

▪ 702 S. Lee St., Batesburg-Leesville

▪ 1325 S. Pine St., Pelion

▪ 110 River Chase Way, Lexington

▪ 3241 Charleston Hwy., Cayce

▪ 419 Sandpit Road, Batesburg-Leesville

▪ 538 Martin Neese Road, Swansea

There are also two locations where Columbia residents can drop off their cooking oil.

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Used cooking oil in Lexington County can have second life as biodiesel."