Cooking oil is a staple ingredient in the operations of commercial kitchens. However, cooking oil can only be used so many times before it is no longer useful and must be discarded and replaced with fresh oil. A common problem that occurs in many commercial kitchens is that used cooking oil (UCO) is not disposed of properly and may end up being washed down the kitchen drain after frying and sautéing foods. If UCO is disposed of in this way, it can lead to a range of problems.
Foodservice businesses should never wash UCO down the drain because it will solidify in the water, causing clogs that can lead to leaks, overflows, damage to the plumbing and sewer systems, and harm to the natural environment. Washing UCO down the drain may also violate local and state codes which can result in a restaurant being fined. The best strategy is to recycle UCO after it has been used to avoid problems caused by washing it down the drain, protect the natural environment, and contribute to renewable energy.
The following are the main benefits of properly recycling used cooking oil.
1. Avoid Clogged Kitchen Pipes
The last thing a busy restauranteur needs is a clogged plumbing system to disrupt kitchen operations. Pouring used cooking oil down the drain will eventually clog or crack the pipes. As the oil hardens over time, it will expand and create blockages that are expensive to fix.
The solution to circumvent blockages in the plumbing system is to schedule regular used cooking oil pickups with a reputable cooking oil collection company. Utilizing professional services to properly dispose of used cooking oil will prevent the waste from destroying the kitchen pipes.
2. Protect Local Sewer Lines
Recycling used cooking oil protects the plumbing system of the restaurant as well as the municipal sewer lines. Much of the damage caused to the plumbing and sewer system by used cooking oil is irreversible and expensive to repair. This type of damage also increases the risk of overflows which can backflow into the establishment, pollute the natural environment, and contaminate waterways.
3. Create Renewable Energy
Innovation allows used cooking oil to be converted into renewable fuels including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. As a renewable alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuels, renewable fuels are used in diesel engines to power vehicles and machines and heat buildings. In the US, most renewable fuels are produced from soybean oil and used cooking oil.
4. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, significantly compromise the integrity of the earth’s ozone layer, which serves to protect the earth from the sun’s UV rays. Rising world temperatures are also an adverse consequence of greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycled used cooking oil is used to produce renewable fuels which are clean and, therefore, help minimize pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced when substituting traditional fuels with renewable fuels. Using renewable fuels helps to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and industries by up to 94 percent.
5. Rely on Domestic Oil Resources
The US Energy Information Administration data from 2023 indicates that the US imported 8.51 million barrels per day of petroleum from 86 countries, which included Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The imported petroleum included renewable fuel, like renewable diesel and ethanol.
When restauranteurs recycle used cooking oil, they help to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign oil resources. A dependence on domestic renewable fuel resources reduces potential threats to the nation’s homeland security and economic health, especially in instances of an oil embargo.
6. Lower Repair Costs
As mentioned, recycling used cooking oil will prevent significant damage to the kitchen’s plumbing system. An added benefit is that the proper disposal of cooking oil with an oil collection and recycling company will prevent the expenses associated with repairing a clogged or cracked pipe.
7. Comply with Local Regulations
Dumping used cooking oil down the sewer drain is illegal in some counties. Noncompliance of cooking oil disposal laws can result in fines or even jail time in some municipalities. Contracting with an oil collection company is necessary to remain compliant with local regulations.
8. Maintain a Good Reputation
Discarding used cooking oil in a sewer drain with little regard for the consequences can affect a restaurant’s reputation. Restaurants have come under fire after videos of employees throwing waste oil in a storm drain went viral. Being compliant with oil waste regulations will prevent the tarnishing of a restaurant’s repute.
9. Support the Local Economy
Restaurants that partner with a cooking oil recycling and collection company help these companies generate billions of dollars in revenue. In turn, the cooking oil collection companies support the local economy—for every $100 spent with local companies, over half stays in the community.
10. Create New Jobs
The extra money that results from large-scale cooking oil recycling not only stays in the local community, but helps create new jobs, such as those in the fields of engineering, technology, accounting, marketing, and training. Plus, surplus dollars provide the economic stimulus for emerging area businesses.
How Restaurants Should Recycle Used Cooking Oil (UCO)
All foodservice businesses and commercial kitchens should have a process in place to collect and recycle UCO. In order to ensure safe UCO recycling, restaurants must have the proper equipment to transport and store the UCO and train their employees on the best ways to handle transferring the UCO from the fryers to the storage containers.
Once the cooking oil is no longer useful, it must be transported into proper storage containers where it can be collected until it is picked up for recycling. Businesses may use portable filter machines to transport the UCO and there are automated systems in which UCO can be transferred into storage directly from the fryers through connected piping. It is very important for employees to be trained in the safe handling of the UCO. Improper handling can result in spills that increase the risk of injuries from falls and burns.
Working with a professional used cooking oil company like Mahoney Environmental can help ensure that your business has the proper equipment for the safe handling of UCO and can arrange for regular UCO pickups.
Cooking Oil Equipment and UCO Recycling from Mahoney
Mahoney Environmental helps foodservice businesses safely store and recycle UCO with our cooking oil equipment installation and UCO recycling services.
When you work with us for UCO pickup and recycling services, we will establish a schedule to ensure regular pickups. Our professionals will collect the UCO from your storage containers into our trucks with no need for you to be present while we collect the UCO. We can also schedule our pickups for times that work best for your business, such as before you open or during your least busy time of day. After we collect the UCO, we will transport it to a facility where it will be recycled so it can be used in the production of renewable fuels.
In addition to our UCO collection and recycling services, we also design and install cooking oil handling equipment to help foodservice businesses safely handle and store UCO. We can design and install standard and automated cooking oil systems that include transport and storage equipment to ensure safe and efficient UCO transport and storage. We will consider the needs of each business to design and install a system that best suits their specific needs.
Businesses that are part of the Mahoney Environmental Preferred Oil Program can expect regular UCO pickups and fresh oil delivery, as well as maintenance of their cooking oil equipment and grease traps. You can call us at (800) 892-9392 to learn more about how we can help your business with our cooking oil services.
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