Reducing Waste in School Cafeterias: What to Do with Used Cooking Oil
REDUCING WASTE IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS: WHAT TO DO WITH USED COOKING OIL
Every school cafeteria produces waste – which is money down the drain. Here’s what to do with used cooking oil to reduce waste in schools.
Keyword(s): what to do with used cooking oil
The average, quick-serve restaurant uses 35 pounds of cooking oil per day.
While a school cafeteria may not use that much oil, they must still figure out what to do with oil after frying food each day for hundreds of students.
Used cooking oil shouldn’t be poured down the sink. It can cause the pipes to get blocked. And you could be fined for doing so!
Read on to learn what to do with used cooking oil from your school’s cafeteria.
Sell Used Cooking Oil to an Oil Recycling Company
Cooking oil disposal is a big concern for school cafeterias. Used cooking oil needs to be handled safely, efficiently, and responsibly.
One of the best things you can do is to recycle cooking oils. Various recycling companies across the country specialize in recycling used cooking oil. Not only is this good for the planet, but your school cafeteria can make money.
Disposal companies can charge up to $35 per pickup to take away used cooking oil. Instead of spending money on disposing cooking oil, you can get some of that money back by selling used cooking oil to professional oil recycling companies.
These companies collect cooking oil for reuse. The collected oil can be used as an additive in various products or it can be used as a lubricant in machinery.
Used cooking oil is helpful in getting products out of molds. It can also be used in industrial burners.
Make Your Own Fuel
How to dispose of cooking oil is one of the biggest frustrations of managing a cafeteria. Many people are surprised to learn that used cooking oil can be converted into biodiesel.
This renewable fuel for diesel engines is clean, sustainable energy that doesn’t emit greenhouse gases.
Each liter of oil is converted into a liter of biodiesel. Biodiesel can be used for a wide range of things such as heating your home and cleaning up oil spills.
This can make a huge impact on climate change. It can also help tip the scales away from fossil fuels.
Learn how to make biofuel out of grease from your school cafeteria.
Re-Use Cooking Oil
Besides cooking oil disposal, your other option is to re-use your school cafeteria’s oil.
This will cut costs on how much oil you need to purchase. Plus, leftover oil after frying can add extra flavor to future dishes you prepare.
But, you have to properly prepare and store the oil so that it is usable.
Start by using a coffee filter to strain the oil. This will remove crumbs. Pour the clean oil into an airtight container.
You can store your cooking oil for reuse in the fridge or in a cool, dark place.
Final Thoughts on What to Do With Used Cooking Oil
As you can see there are plenty of solutions on what to do with used cooking oil from your school’s cafeteria.
You may decide to choose one or all of these options. Remember, pouring grease down the drain is not a good option.
Read more about the dangers of pouring cooking oil down the drain.