How to Choose a Used Cooking Oil Recycling Company
Making a decision about how to choose a used cooking oil recycling company might be something you delegate to a line cook. It shouldn’t be. Disposing of and recycling your used cooking oil is important.
A poor choice of a used cooking oil recycling company can affect the reputation and financial performance of your restaurant. A good choice can keep your kitchen staff safe, your premises smelling like your freshly-cooked food and also bring in revenue.
What to look for in a used cooking oil recycling company
Your restaurant grease disposal company has to be a partner, someone you can trust and who will deliver on their commitments. When oil prices are high, fly-by-nighters crop, promising large rebates and then go belly-up with the next cyclical drop in prices, leaving you in trouble.
Check the company history. How long have they been in business? Check their Google ratings. Do they provide references? Are they adequately insured?
If you are a medium sized restaurant and not a national chain would you choose an industry giant for whom you are a low priority? Or would you prefer a solid, trustworthy local company with a solid track record, the owner of which you can reach by phone any time of day or night? Do you really want to speak to a customer engagement center at midnight and wait while they find someone who can make a decision?
Is your restaurant grease disposal company a full service company? Will they clean your grease trap, pick up your used cooking oil, powerwash the area around your oil bin?
Will they advise you on safety issues and the status of your grease trap? Would you prefer to make one call to the owner for all of your needs or be on hold at a 100 person call center?
Let’s review the questions you should be asking, and what to look for in your potential used cooking oil recycling company’s answer:
Ask for referrals, check google ratings, check length of time in business.
Look at their website. Are they professional? Studying their website can tell you a lot. Check out facebook. Do you see online complaints about their service? Have they been in business for at least 5 years? Talk to other restaurants nearby and ask how their experience has been.
Ask for the owner’s phone number and their guarantee for same day emergency
service. Make a call and test it out.
Ask to see their liability insurance policy and speak to their insurance agent. If the answer is not clear you should walk away.
Having one person to call is great. If you produce enough oil you may qualify for a rebate or get grease trap cleaning for free! Why have multiple suppliers?
This is critical. You want your restaurant grease disposal company to provide a range of solutions to meet your needs as your business grows. Ask about indoor tanks, and grease transport devices like caddies and ecotubs.
Check out some of their customer sites. Do they keep the area around the bin looking and smelling good? Is it safe? Is there a clear path to the bin?