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Used Cooking Oil FAQs

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Smart Alternative Fuels answers your questions.

Used Cooking Oil Basics

The most important reason is to reduce greenhouse gasses by displacing the emissions from regular diesel fuel. Recycling used cooking oil also prevents clogged sewers and contaminated waterways. The handling of used cooking oil is regulated by the EPA throughout the United States. Overall, recycling provides a huge environmental benefit.

No. Never pour used cooking oil down the drain. The result over time is clogged pipes, damaged grease traps, broken plumbing, and the fouling of public waterways. Always recycle used cooking oil.

Recycled cooking oil is often made into biodiesel or renewable diesel fuel. Other uses include animal feed, soaps and cosmetics.

Yes, all types of cooking oils are recyclable including corn, safflower, olive, soy, sunflower and others.

That is a tough question with a lot of factors. The answer varies with the oil used, the temperature of the oil, the food that is cooked, the kitchen best practices, the filtering and cleaning of the oil. The details of reusing cooking oil safely are here.

How Do Restaurants Handle Used Cooking Oil?

Used cooking oil recycling companies are in every state in the nation. Many advertise on Google so if you google used cooking oil recycling companies you will see a number of options located near you. SAF is the leading used cooking oil recycling company in the pacific northwest.

Having a reliable used cooking grease partner to recycle your oil is very important. Your grease partner should be available 24/7 for emergencies, providing lockable high quality grease bins for free. Liability insurance is a must as accidents do happen. They should be fully licensed in the states in which they operate. Watch out for the fly by nighters who turn up when prices are high and then disappear when they drop. Check references and their longevity in the business. Here are the top 5 benefits to using a cooking oil recycler.

Local recyclers often know their customers personally, are easily accessible and pick up the phone and can make decisions when you call. Basically, they provide a more personalized service. They also hire local staff putting money back into the economy which benefits you and your restaurant.

What Should I Know About Grease Traps?

A grease trap (also called an interceptor) is a plumbing device which prevents kitchen grease from passing through pipes and into public waterways. Grease traps are required by EPA regulations for all restaurants and are accompanied by rules and regulations regarding installation and maintenance.

Local health departments inspect grease traps regularly to insure they are operating within established regulations. Failing an inspection can cost a restaurant money and sometimes shut it down.

Odors from a grease trap are an indication that the grease trap is overly full or is malfunctioning. Call your used cooking oil recycler immediately and request that your trap be cleaned and inspected.