Holiday Grease Roundup Returns with 68 Collection Sites Across North Texas

November 2, 2026 (Arlington, TEXAS) – As North Texans prepare for holiday cooking and gatherings, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and its regional partners are encouraging residents to keep fats, oils and grease out of household drains through the annual Holiday Grease Roundup. Organized through NCTCOG's Wastewater and Treatment Education Roundtable (WATER), the campaign runs from November 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027.

Now in its 13th year, the campaign brings together 49 municipal, county and water district partners to provide 68 collection locations across North Texas where residents can recycle used cooking oil and grease free of charge. This year's effort also includes a new apartment community partner in Allen, helping expand access to grease recycling for multifamily residents.

Since the program began in 2014, participating communities have collected nearly 68,000 gallons of used cooking oil and grease, including 8,519 gallons during the 2025 campaign alone.

“A little grease poured down the drain can lead to big problems for homeowners and communities,” said Hannah Ordonez, a Senior Planner with NCTCOG’s Environment and Development Department. “The Holiday Grease Roundup makes it easy for North Texans to protect their pipes and turn used cooking oil into something useful.”

As fats, oils and grease cool, they can harden and accumulate inside pipes, eventually causing blockages, costly plumbing repairs and sewage backups. Larger blockages can also lead to sewer overflows that affect streets, neighborhoods and local waterways. The problem can become especially noticeable during the holiday season, when households prepare meals involving cooking oil, butter, meat drippings and other greasy ingredients.

Rather than pouring these materials down the drain or throwing them away, residents can collect used cooking oil and grease and take them to a participating drop-off location. Collected materials are then recycled into useful products, including alternative fuels.

Alliance Processors and American BioSource will support the campaign by collecting and processing used cooking oil and grease for recycling.

Residents can find their nearest participating collection site using the interactive map at www.DefendYourDrainsNorthTexas.com. Collection locations and accepted materials may vary, so residents are encouraged to review site-specific instructions before dropping off their used cooking oil and grease.

Throughout the campaign, NCTCOG and WATER partners will also share educational resources and reminders about proper grease disposal through the Defend Your Drains North Texas initiative.

By taking a few simple steps in the kitchen, North Texans can help prevent costly plumbing problems, protect regional wastewater infrastructure and give used cooking oil and grease a second life.

Media Contact:

Caroline Vandergriff, Public Affairs & Communications Officer

(682) 427-4354

cvandergriff@nctcog.org

About the North Central Texas Council of Governments: 

NCTCOG is a voluntary association of 238 local governments serving a 16-county region centered around Dallas-Fort Worth. Established in 1966, the organization provides regional planning, coordination, and technical expertise in transportation, environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness, public safety, workforce development, and human services for the region's more than 8.9 million residents.