CARY - This holiday season Cary will pick up residents' cooking oils and grease and dispose of it as part of a two-month pilot program that will turn the oils and grease into bio-fuel.

Now through Jan. 30, 2009, Cary residents can collect their cooking oils, fats and grease in a sealable container and schedule a pickup from the town.

Cary officials hope the program will become long-term and help reduce sewer blockages, over flows, accidental spills and disposals in landfill.

Illegal disposal of cooking fats, oils and grease through the sewer system or through the storm water system contributed to 16 sewer overflows in 2006 and six overflows in 2007 for a total of 17,458 gallons of untreated wastewater being discharged.

Cary residents who want to participate in this pilot program can follow these steps: 1. Place waste cooking oils or grease in a sealable container that previously contained a food product.

2. Label container "Waste Cooking Oil," and secure the cap.

3. Call the public works customer service at (919) 469-4090 to schedule a pick up. (There is a minimum pickup of one-half gallon of oils or grease.)

4. Place waste cooking oil at the curb by 7 a.m. on day of scheduled collection

The loads of oil and grease will then be transported to the public works operation center for pick-up by a local bio-diesel producer.

Currently, Cary collects motor oils at the curb and recycles it.

For more information, visit www.townofcary.org/grease.

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