How to Dispose of Cooking Oil Environmentally
Table of Contents:
- Why Should You Recycle Your Used Cooking Oil?
- Proper vs. Improper Oil Disposal: How to Get Rid of Used Cooking Oil
- How We Collect & Reuse Cooking Oil
- Possible Uses of Recycled Used Cooking Oil
Cooking with oil and grease can make for delicious food. In any kitchen, including restaurant and industrial kitchens, you’ll find cooking oil on hand. Many facilities use multi-gallon containers of cooking oil on a regular basis. As you can imagine, following proper oil disposal guidelines is vital in these settings.
Though you might not think twice about it, how you choose to dispose of your cooking oil has a significant environmental impact. Recycling your cooking oil can be extremely beneficial for your operation and the environment. Consider Baker Commodities oil collection and recycling for your grease management solution.
Why Should You Recycle Your Used Cooking Oil?
The more you recycle, the more you contribute to a cleaner, safer and healthier natural environment. You might consider recycling your used cooking oil, sometimes called UCO, for its many useful secondary purposes. When you do, you’ll help reduce greenhouse gases and minimize your carbon footprint. Recycling used grease also keeps it from contaminating the environment.
Used cooking oil and other waste products can damage vital natural resources such as freshwater and soil. This can be detrimental to wildlife, agriculture and drinking water supplies. It can also lead to foul odors, flammable land areas and other undesirable side effects. With improper disposal, used cooking oil can wreak havoc on facilities, appliances and the natural environment. With proper disposal, the oil will not end up in a landfill. Recycling is the best available option for used cooking oil.
Proper vs. Improper Oil Disposal: How to Get Rid of Used Cooking Oil
When you’re finished using cooking oil, you should be cautious about its disposal, whether or not you choose to recycle. Improper disposal can lead to long-term issues for your facility and your local environment. Dumping oil down the drain causes it to solidify and may result in clogged pipes. This can cause unexpected downtime and an expensive plumber visit.
Proper Disposal of Cooking Oil
There are safe and eco-friendly ways you can effectively dispose of used cooking oil to prevent harm to your drainage system and the environment. Here is how you can properly dispose of cooking oil:
- Properly store used cooking oil: If you use the right containers, you can dispose of cooking oil with the rest of your waste. The containers should be in good condition, leak-proof and have tight lids that won’t budge once they’re sealed. Ensure that the cooking oil has cooled before placing it in the container for waste or recycling.
- Store and reuse: If you’ve only used cooking oil once, you can store it to reuse for another meal before finding ways to dispose of it, ensuring you get the most out of its life. First, you’ll want to clean the cooled oil by straining it, which can easily be achieved through a coffee filter. Do this multiple times and store what’s left in an airtight container in your fridge. With this method, your cooking oil can last another 30 days!
- Recycle with a rendering company: Rather than disposing of your cooking oil and grease, you can recycle it by working with a rendering company such as Baker Commodities. We can help you safely collect used cooking oil and give it a new life in many other commercial products, such as animal feed, food-safe lubricants and even renewable biofuel.
While home cooks can let cooking oil cool and scrape it into a disposable container, safe removal is a more complex task for larger operations. If you work in an industry where cooking oil is used regularly, you might be asking yourself how to dispose of large amounts of cooking oil.
You’ll likely need either indoor containment tanks or similar outdoor solutions, depending on available space. You may also need drain filters and other preventive maintenance equipment. For new cooking oil, you might benefit from an organized fresh oil supply system.
It’s a good idea to rely on a professional cooking oil removal service for large-scale operations. In general, you should dispose of oil in a sealed container rather than washing it down a drain. You’ll also want to wipe oiled surfaces with a rag before rinsing. Even small amounts of oil rinsed down the drain can add up, especially in industrial kitchens.
Improper Disposal of Cooking Oil
If you’re trying to figure out what to do with used cooking oil, keep in mind that improper disposal can result in expensive repairs and potential fines or legal penalties. If you’re getting rid of cooking oil, there are certain things that you shouldn’t do, such as:
- Dumping cooking oil down the drain or sink.
- Storing cooking oil in plastic bags before throwing them away.
- Emptying cooking oil in the yard or on the street.
- Pouring cooking oil down the toilet.
- Adding cooking oil to the septic system.
- Disposing of hot cooking oil in the trash can.
Pouring cooking oil down the drain can clog your plumbing or piping system and cause unnecessary damage, resulting in expensive repairs. Dumping cooking oil outside or in the trash can attract pests or small animals and can also end up in the water supply if it rains and runs into the sewage system.
Dumping cooking oil is also illegal in many places, which means you could face fines or legal penalties if you’re not properly disposing of used cooking oil or grease. Some states carry fines up to $30,000 for illegal dumping based on the weight or size of the dump or if for commercial gain.
How We Collect & Reuse Cooking Oil
At Baker Commodities, we collect and reuse UCO from our various industry partners. We provide Total Grease Management® solutions for a wide range of industries, including:
We’ll customize the right program for your oil disposal needs. Our services include grease collection, grease trap pumping, drain cleaning, pressure washing and preventive maintenance. Here is a step-by-step outline of our process:
1. Grease Collection:
First, we collect the used grease from your facility. You can choose your preferred method of grease removal. You might opt for either a traditional barrel and drum service or an automatic pumping system within storage tanks. We use the highest-quality grease collection equipment, including industrial-grade indoor container tanks, as well as outdoor solutions and systems. We can handle any grease volume, no matter how big or small.
2. Grease Processing:
Once we’ve collected your used grease, we’ll process it for repurposing. This may involve refining, heating, filtering, centrifuging or other treatments depending on the chosen secondary use — this will turn it into useful yellow grease. After the oil has undergone appropriate treatments, it becomes a valuable resource for many different industries.
3. Grease Recycling:
There are many uses for used cooking oil. We’ll recycle your UCO, making it serviceable again rather than allowing it to sit in a landfill or pollute the environment. Read on to learn how used cooking oil can take on new life through recycling.
Possible Uses of Recycled Used Cooking Oil
Processed used cooking oil, also known as yellow grease, is one of the most versatile recyclable substances. When you opt for our recycling service, you can have a major positive impact on the environment, contributing to the sustainable production of numerous goods. Used cooking oil has many potential uses for various industries, including each of the following:
1. Animal Feed
Yellow grease offers nutritional benefits for animal feed. It’s a high-calorie, high-energy additive, which allows for rapid, yet natural and healthy animal growth. Farmers often opt for feeds with concentrated yellow grease additives, as it increases their livestock profitability. It’s included in feed meals for poultry, swine and other common farm animals. You may also find it in certain pet foods.
2. Renewable Biofuel
You can also use yellow grease to create a renewable biofuel, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Because it’s made from recycled material, its production involves fewer carbon emissions. Recycled UCO is one of the most versatile vehicle-powering alternatives since it works in any petroleum diesel-burning engine. As it burns, it reduces emissions by 86% compared to traditional petroleum. It also has a longer safe storage life and high-performance capabilities.
3. Oleochemicals
Oleochemicals found in yellow grease are a necessary component for many everyday products, including soap, paint, makeup, detergent and rubber. The most prominent oleochemical-reliant product is soap. Oleochemicals serve vital commercial and household purposes.
4. Food-Safe Lubricant
Yellow grease is also useful as a food-safe lubricant. Large-scale food production facilities use industrial equipment, and this equipment’s lubricant has to be non-toxic to keep food products safe for consumption. Since yellow grease is organic and edible in nature, it makes for an ideal equipment lubricant in these settings.
Rely on the Total Grease Management® Process for Recycling Used Cooking Oil
When you choose the Total Grease Management® program through Baker Commodities, everyone wins. You’ll preserve your drains and appliances, extending their life spans and saving you on repair costs. You’ll also reduce the health and safety risks associated with improper disposal, keeping your employees, patrons and guests safer. Finally, you’ll improve your company’s environmental impact by contributing to used oil recycling efforts. You’ll have the opportunity to advertise your social conscience, which could lead to increased sales.
At Baker Commodities, we tailor our grease removal and repurposing services to your unique needs. We take care of the entire process for you. We’ll put together an individualized plan after meeting with you and evaluating your facilities. We hold ourselves to high-quality service standards, providing personal support and 24/7 emergency response. If you’re looking for a safe, beneficial and environmentally conscious way to dispose of used cooking oil, contact us today.