The Journey of UCO: From Restaurant to Recycling Plant

When incorrectly disposed of, used cooking oil (UCO) can clog sewer systems and drains and contaminate water sources. When it decomposes in landfills or is burned, it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Your business can also incur some hefty fines and penalties due to noncompliance. With that in mind, proper grease collection, transportation and recycling practices are essential for restaurant sustainability.

That’s where professional UCO management services from Baker Commodities come in. We help your facility complete a safe collection and recycling process that complies with federal regulations and environmental standards. Learn more about our process below.

Step 1: UCO Collection

To ensure compliance with environmental regulations in the food service industry, you’re required to collect your UCO separately for disposal. This prevents the oil from entering drainage and sewer systems.

You’ll want to hire a professional for grease collection if your operations produce UCO. Your kitchen’s fryers produce large quantities of oil each day, which must be collected.

Baker Commodities provides grease collection services to remove the burden from your staff’s shoulders. We have various durable, leakproof containers available in numerous sizes to collect your UCO. We’ll help you determine the ideal fit for your facility and needs.

Additionally, our automated collection systems are designed to remove oil from fryers and send it to collection tanks, so your staff won’t need to handle the UCO. Our automated, custom solutions are built to streamline your operations and speed up the collection process, making your restaurant operations more productive and efficient.

Step 2: Transportation

Once the cooking oil is no longer useful, it needs to be transferred to specialized containers, where it remains stored until it’s picked up for UCO recycling.

Commercial kitchens require the proper equipment to transport and store UCO, and they must train their staff on the best practices for transferring the oil from the fryers to storage containers. Employee training promotes safe UCO handling and prevents spills, slips, falls and burns. Working with a professional for grease transportation services helps ensure your food service establishment has the right equipment for the job, and you can schedule regular UCO pickups.

As outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, UCO transporters need to comply with relevant requirements established by the Department of Transportation. At Baker Commodities, we ensure secure, compliant transportation to prevent spills and contamination. After collecting and picking up your UCO, our team will transport it to one of our facilities for processing.

Step 3: Processing and Refining

The UCO is now ready to be processed. This phase involves separating the yellow grease — the fats and oils collected from restaurants and food service facilities. We process the material to remove water and solids, primarily through gravity settling, where denser particles settle to the bottom. Separated solids are managed as waste.

Once these impurities are removed from the oil, the result is a cleaner liquid, which is then transferred to a settling tank for further processing. This settling process isolates the different compounds so that they create distinct layers, making them easy to separate. Because water has a higher density, it will settle at the bottom, while the oil sits on top of the water.

Step 4: Grease Recycling and End Product Manufacturing

Once processing is complete, the UCO can be recycled and given a new life. Used cooking oil can be repurposed for the following applications:

• Biodiesel fuel — a more sustainable alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel — for cars, trucks and farm machinery
• Cosmetics, such as hair and skin care products, foundation, concealer, lipstick and eye shadow
• Soaps
• Feedstock and animal feed
• Industrial lubricants, such as those used for food production facilities — petroleum-based lubricants can contaminate food products, making animal fats and vegetable oils a safer alternative
• Furniture polishes and leather conditioners
• Fertilizers

Because UCO can be used to develop renewable diesel fuel, it can also help create by-products like renewable propane, butane and naphtha. Many companies use these by-products to manufacture materials such as solvents, plastics, cleansers, tires, paint thinners and varnishes.

At Baker Commodities, much of the UCO we collect is recycled for renewable fuel production. This waste-to-energy process contributes toward cleaner, more sustainable initiatives and a reduced carbon footprint.

Equipment and Services: Solutions for Every Operation

Baker Commodities uses specialized equipment to ensure safe, efficient grease collection, handling and storage. Our durable tanks, containers and automated systems offer reliable solutions for your facility to contain, transport, monitor and filter UCO.

Partnering with us gives you access to the following equipment, helping you simplify your operations:

• Outdoor containment and pipe locks: We offer multiple outdoor grease and animal by-product storage solutions, equipped with secure locking mechanisms. Our products can accommodate facilities with low- to high-volume needs and various weather requirements, and they’re compatible with grease transporters for seamless movement.
• Indoor containment tanks: Our indoor containment tanks combine durability with ease of use, and some include features like remote control.
• Drain filter and lock systems: Our drain filter and lock equipment are designed to catch food debris, keep your pipes clean and help prevent grease theft.
• Fresh cooking oil containment systems: These systems dispense fresh oil for daily use in your food service establishment.

Why Choose Baker Commodities?

Hospitality and food service professionals consistently choose us for several reasons:

• Our commitment to a clean, safe environment: We’ve recycled millions of pounds of UCO and animal by-products at our manufacturing facilities, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep disposed waste out of our nation’s landfills. Our team uses state-of-the-art technology to treat process water, and we ensure full compliance with air pollution and odor abatement regulations.
• Decades of service: Since 1937, our three-generation family-owned and operated company has been devoted to providing customers with the best possible products and solutions. Our clients trust us for responsive, caring and expert service.
• A carbon-negative company: We are proudly carbon-negative, meaning we remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than we produce. We achieve this by recycling used cooking oil and animal by-products.
• Our Total Grease Management® Program: We provide comprehensive management solutions. This allows you to choose from various services based on your unique needs, from grease collection to preventive maintenance.

Transform Your Waste Management With Baker Commodities

As a full-service grease collection provider, we have the equipment, resources and expertise to deliver the solutions you need. Our equipment is durable, leakproof and compatible with nearly any kitchen size. Reach out today to speak with one of our specialists.