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PhrasesRecycling and WasteL'olio di frittura usato dove si butta?
B1informal

L'olio di frittura usato dove si butta?

Where do you throw away used frying oil?

Pronunciation

OL-yo di fri-TOO-ra — 'gl' in olio makes a palatal 'ly' sound, like the 'll' in million.

When to use it

Use this whenever you have used cooking oil to dispose of. Pouring oil down the drain is a serious environmental offence in Italy and causes major pipe blockages. Ask a neighbour or check your municipality's website for the nearest collection point.

What it means

Used vegetable oils (oli esausti or olii di frittura) must be collected separately and taken to collection points, usually found at markets, supermarkets, and isole ecologiche. They are then processed into biodiesel or animal feed. One litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water.

Variations

Non versare l'olio nel lavandino.

Don't pour the oil down the sink.

Critical warning; a very common and harmful mistake.

Raccolgo l'olio usato in una bottiglia e lo porto all'ecocentro.

I collect the used oil in a bottle and take it to the recycling centre.

Describes the correct procedure step by step.

C'è un contenitore per l'olio esausto al mercato.

There's a container for used oil at the market.

Common location for oil collection points in Italian towns.

Mini Dialogue

— Ho friggere le patatine e ora ho una pentola piena di olio usato. — Non buttarlo nel lavandino, per carità! — E allora dove? — Aspetta che raffreddi, mettilo in una bottiglia di plastica e portalo all'ecocentro o al mercato. C'è l'apposito bidone.

— I fried some chips and now I have a pot full of used oil. — Don't pour it down the sink, for goodness' sake! — Where then? — Wait for it to cool, put it in a plastic bottle and take it to the recycling centre or the market. There's a specific bin.

Cultural Note

Several Italian towns run a premio virtù (virtue reward) scheme: residents who bring used oil to collection points receive supermarket vouchers. This has dramatically increased correct disposal rates in participating municipalities.