#AD / Trying the Lakeland Absorb Bin

As we are approaching Christmas, I wish to share with you this valuable message in conjunction with United Utilities. With families cooking with fats over the holiday period, it is important that you do not pour these down the drain. This could be the goose fat that you roast your potatoes with, to the fat from your roast meat. Every year, there are over 28,000 blockages in the North West of England, caused by people throwing fats and food scrap down the drain. The Lakeland Absorb Bin can be used to easily dispose of my fats.*

Lakeland Absorb Bin

The Lakeland absorb bin provides an easy way to dispose of fats in an aesthetically pleasing container. You simply pour any cooking oil and fats into the absorbent material and then put the lid back on. The fat trappers in this small bin can contain 150ml of fat or oil and can be replaced when needed. Simply throw the fat trappers into the bin when you’re done with them.

The small Absorb Bin costs £6.99 from Lakeland and comes with three liners. You can buy additional liners from Lakeland at a cost of £1.49 for one liner or a pack of five for £5.96. I do like the look of these bins as they look pleasing on my kitchen counter top. However, if you want a cheaper option, I highly suggest pouring your fat into any heat resistant container. Simply scoop the fat or use a kitchen towel when cooled and throw in the bin after.

Fat trapper in use

United Utilities competition

United Utilities are also launching the ‘My Roastie Photie’ competition! Simply post a photo of your perfectly cooked roast potato with the hashtag #binfat2winthat on Twitter mentioning United Utilities’s Twitter handle, or on the United Utilities Facebook page. United Utilities will choose five people who will receive £100 of food vouchers. The competition ends on 8th January 2017!

Information

Provided by United Utilities:

• The average North West household pours 14Ibs of fat, oils and grease down the drain in a year. Across the region, this equates to 2.9 million stone – the weight of over 243,000 UK adults (more than the population of Oldham!).

• Where does all this fat come from? The answer could be a fondness for frying. According to a study into the region’s “fat habits”, which examined how we eat, cook and dispose of the calorific culprit, one in five North West residents fry food at least three days a week. 

• The study was conducted by water company United Utilities to discover more about the fat which all too often ends up down our drains.

• United Utilities attends over 53,000 call-outs to pipe blockages every year at a cost of £20 million.

• The water company wants to help people learn how they can keep their own drains healthy, as many people don’t know that water companies aren’t responsible for fixing blockages on domestic properties. Insurance companies often won’t pay out if the problem was caused by fats, oils and grease.

• The aim of the study was to understand more about how people use and dispose of fats to better tackle the issue. It found that many people (47%) dispose of fat and food waste by pouring it down the sink or loo, rather than putting it in the bin, even though over 60% know that doing so will cause blockages and damage to pipes.

• The study also found that people are keen for change. Over 80% of people want to ditch their bad cooking habits and lose weight by eating more healthily.

For more information about how to keep your drains clear, please visit United Utilities’ pages about fats.

Have you been careful about disposing of your fats? Would you consider the Lakeland Absorb Bin?

* United Utilities sent me the Lakeland Absorb Bin for free. This does not affect my opinion of the product.