Used Cooking Oil Container Expertise Since 1953
Mahoney Environmental has supplied commercial kitchens with used cooking oil (UCO) containers and handling equipment since 1953. Our team designs and installs storage containers, automated transfer systems, and oil caddies that fit your kitchen layout and frying volume.
Every container we install is part of our closed-loop oil recycling program. We collect used cooking oil from your location on a set schedule, process it at our facilities, and sell it as feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Our used cooking oil recycling service is free, and new accounts receive a complimentary collection container.
How We Assess Your Kitchen
Before we recommend any equipment, a regional account manager reviews your floor space, frying volume, and staff workflow. That review determines the container size, where it goes, and whether direct-connect equipment makes sense for your fryers. Our automated systems retrofit into most existing restaurants, so you can upgrade the kitchen you already have.
Our containers are leak-proof and health department-approved, with debris screens and safety barriers that protect employees during manual deposits. The right container keeps oil off the floor and out of your drains, and it gives our drivers clean access at pickup.
Automated Systems
Automated systems move used cooking oil into storage without anyone carrying hot oil across the kitchen. They cut down on burns, slips, and spills, and your staff no longer has to clean grill buckets or walk oil out the back door. Automated systems also increase the recycling value of your used oil. They are a good fit for high-volume operations such as national chains, hotels and resorts, stadiums, and airports.
Direct Connection Recycler
The Direct Connection Recycler connects to your fryers, so staff can empty used cooking oil with the turn of a lever and the flip of a switch. Hot oil pumps from the fryer straight into a waste oil tank placed inside the building or outside in its own storage compartment. If your fryers do not have built-in filtration, a portable filter machine (PFM) can transfer the oil instead.
Indoor Line System
The indoor system works for restaurants with open interior floor space. Holding tanks sit inside the building, and a pipeline runs through the walls to a point near the fryers. The tank connects to a port on the outside wall, so our drivers collect oil from outside the kitchen. Kitchens without built-in fryer filtration can pair this system with a PFM.
Heated Outdoor Bulk Container
When indoor storage is not an option, the heated outdoor bulk container holds liquid cooking oil and solid shortening year-round. The container is insulated and heated, and staff fill it with a used cooking oil shuttle. A screen at the fill opening catches debris, and the evacuation port has an anti-theft lock. You can also add a remote level sensor that reports how full the container is, so we can schedule pickups before it overflows.
Standard Systems
Standard systems suit kitchens that prefer manual deposits. Each bulk container is leak-proof and health department-approved. An easy-raise lid, a protective screen that keeps debris out of the oil, and a safety barrier that shields employees from hot oil round out the design. Containers come in several sizes and are built to hold their appearance in busy back-of-house areas.
Standard containers work with our oil caddies and shuttles for safe transfer between the fryer and the tank. For kitchens with heavy deep frying, we size the container to your volume so it does not fill up before your next pickup. Security lids are also available for locations where grease theft is a concern.
Basic Systems
A basic system package gives your kitchen a complete setup for fresh and used cooking oil. A standard installation includes the following equipment.
- Fresh cooking oil tank (in select markets)
- Used cooking oil tank
- Electronic control system with remote monitoring and alerts
- Fill wand and hose
- Exterior fill box
- Exterior used cooking oil evacuation port
Remote monitoring tracks oil levels, so your team does not have to check the tanks by hand. The exterior evacuation port lets our drivers collect used oil without coming through your kitchen. Because the package includes a fresh cooking oil tank, it pairs with our fresh oil delivery service in select markets.
Custom Equipment
Some kitchens need more than a standard configuration. Tight or unusual layouts, multiple fryer banks, and high frying volumes often call for custom tanks, piping, and controls. Our team designs these systems around your space and workflow with automated or standard components, and we can install them in new or existing kitchens.
Custom systems are common in these kitchens.
- Multi-fryer fast-food and fast-casual restaurants
- Hotel, airport, and stadium commissary kitchens
- Grocery stores with prepared food departments
- Any high-volume kitchen that needs a precise, compliant used oil storage setup
Oil Caddies and Shuttles
When fryers do not connect directly to a storage tank, a Mahoney oil caddy moves used cooking oil across the kitchen safely. We offer two sizes:
| Model | Capacity |
| MES 75 Caddy | 75 lb. / 10 gallons |
| MES 120 Caddy | 120 lb. / 16 gallons |
Both models use heavy-gauge stainless steel, a high-temperature hose, quick-disconnect fittings, a 5-gallon-per-minute pump, and a crumb catcher basket for draining hot oil. Optional filter upgrade kits are available. For safe transfer steps, see our guide to handling your oil.
Indoor Storage Tanks
The MES Inside series gives kitchens high-capacity indoor storage between scheduled pickups. Two sizes are available:
| Model | Capacity | Dimensions (L × W × H) |
| MES Inside 183 | 183 gallons / 1,345 lb. | 30″ × 30″ × 73″ |
| MES Inside 352 | 352 gallons / 2,587 lb. | 40″ × 40″ × 73″ |
Both tanks connect directly to a fryer or PFM. Each one includes automatic shutoff at maximum capacity, level indicators with overflow protection, a full-tank alarm, a UCO anti-theft locker, and a 1-year parts and labor warranty. The MES Inside 352 requires door or double-door access wider than 40 inches.
Where Your Used Oil Goes
Mahoney operates processing plants across the United States. After pickup, used cooking oil is screened, heated to separate water and particles, and run through settling tanks and a centrifuge to pull out solids. Nearly 100% of the UCO we collect is sold as feedstock for renewable diesel and SAF.
Part of a Complete Oil Management Program
Every Mahoney container comes with scheduled used cooking oil collection. You can also add grease trap cleaning in many areas and fresh oil delivery in select markets. One provider handles your oil, your grease trap, and the equipment behind both. Your service contract establishes traceability and ownership of your oil, which protects you against theft and gives you a clear record for every gallon we collect.
FAQs
Mahoney's used cooking oil recycling service is free, and new accounts receive a complimentary collection container. For automated systems or custom equipment, contact us to talk through options for your kitchen.
Container size depends on your frying volume, available space, and pickup frequency. A Regional Account Manager will help you choose the size and placement and decide whether direct-connect equipment fits your kitchen.
Call (800) 892-9392, text 971-254-2033, or submit a service request to schedule an extra pickup. Until the driver arrives, store the extra oil in buckets or the original containers the oil came in and set them next to our container. Let customer service know about the extra oil so we can alert the driver.
Keep your container locked, and place it in a locked corral or an area covered by security cameras if you can. Mahoney does not use rental or generic box trucks, so call the police if you see one at your container, then contact us or file a Grease Theft Incident form.
No. Mahoney's program handles cooking oil and grease from commercial kitchens. Motor oil, automotive oil, and oil filters need a separate oil recycling service, so keep them out of your cooking oil tank.
No. Mahoney serves businesses, including restaurants, retail establishments with prepared food, and other foodservice establishments. We do not offer public or residential drop-off, though we provide one-time service for special events such as festivals and fairs. For household cooking oil, check with your local recycling center, garbage facility, or household hazardous waste facility. Some accept cooled oil in a sealed container such as one-gallon jugs, and some have appointment requirements, so call before you go.
Mahoney serves more than 90,000 customers through a coast-to-coast network, with local teams in major metros such as New York, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. If your city is not on our locations page, call (800) 892-9392, and we will confirm coverage.
Oil poured down a drain hardens in sewer pipes and causes backups, oil dumped outside reaches storm drains, and oil tossed in a dumpster draws pests and odors. Local water authorities can fine kitchens for these mistakes, which is why a licensed recycler is the safer route.
The finished oil is tested and tracked for traceability, and the ISCC EU and CORSIA programs certify what we collect as residue for renewable fuel. Every gallon is documented and backed by a Certificate of Compliance that meets and exceeds USDA and EPA standards.
Call Us Now (800) 892-9392