Waste Management Inc. has been fined $2,000 by the state Department of Ecology for a spill of about 140 gallons of used cooking oil last May into Johns Creek in north Renton.

The spill occurred on May 28, when a solid-waste truck driver knocked over a grease receptacle containing about 145 gallons of cooking oil outside Panda Express at The Landing.

About 140 gallons of oil flowed into a storm-drain system with an outfall to Johns Creek, which flows through Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park to Lake Washington.

Booms were placed in the creek by a contractor hired by Waste Management to capture the oil.

Cooking oil is of low toxicity but can stick to fish or birds that come in contact with it, according to the ecology department. It also can reduce oxygen levels in the water.

The City of Renton Public Works Department also responded to the spill, installing a boom at the outfall where the drainage system empties into Johns Creek to help control the cooking oil.

The ecology department issued $122,748 in penalties of $1,000 or more during the fourth quarter of 2010. The fines were announced this week.