The Do’s and Don’ts of Used Cooking Oil Disposal Practices

When operating a commercial kitchen, food processing plant or other facility that uses a large amount of cooking oil, there are certain practices that should be followed regarding the disposal of said cooking oil. Most people know from their lives back at home that proper used cooking oil disposal practices definitely do not include dumping the oil down the sink, but how does that translate on a commercial scale?

Commercial kitchens on the other hand have more to think about than just where the used cooking oil should go. After all, improper disposal can put the life of your facility at risk.

DO: Schedule Regular Pickups

One of the most important things to do in order to maintain a healthy facility, free from the harmful effects of improper used cooking oil disposal practices, is to schedule regular pickups with a professional used cooking oil collection company, like Hulsey Environmental (a Blue Flow Company). The ideal cadence for a used cooking oil collection depends on how much your facility produces, but we recommend once per month. If you neglect your used cooking oil container, creating overflowing situations that cause slippery footing around the collection/dumpster area along with placing yourself at a higher risk for rodents, creating a whole new problem, putting your staff and facility at risk.

Once you find a reputable partner to come and help with your facilities used cooking oil disposal practices, the technicians will come out to your facility to collect the used cooking oil from the designated container. The best part is that you can be paid, based on volume, to have your used cooking oil collected! We even provide our customers with a new container, so there’s nothing for you to worry about.

DON’T: Allow Overflow

If regular pickups are ignored and the container used to store your facility’s yellow grease is not emptied regularly, an excess amount of the FOG debris and other materials will build up and start to overflow.

You should always check your used cooking oil collection container before pouring more yellow grease in. Once the bin reaches its maximum capacity, it will overflow and cause a disastrous mess on your property, possibly leaking into incoming and outgoing drain lines, and attract rodents. This is costly to repair and can result in city health inspector citations, municipal fines as well as a temporary facility shutdown, leading to a loss in revenue.

DO: Keep Your Container Free from Debris

It’s important to keep your container free from FOG materials, or fats, oils, grease and other debris to keep a hygienic collection bin.  When adding more used cooking oil to the bin, pay attention to how slowly the oil pours or whether it goes down – if you experience trouble, there is likely debris causing a clogged grate in the bin.

The FOG materials gathered in these bins – just like the grease trap – can produce foul odors and fumes that mix into the air, which are highly flammable. Be sure to remove any debris from the top grate of your collection bin to allow for easier flow, as well as a more efficient recycling process post-collection.

DON’T: Ignore Poor Drainage

If you start to notice your facility’s drains moving slower or not draining at all, improper used cooking oil disposal practices might be to blame. As we touched on above, a poorly maintained collection bin can lead to overflow, and that overflow can end up the piping system. As the FOG materials accumulate, they solidify and stiffen, causing a cap that prevents any passage of liquid through the pipes.

Ignoring this problem won’t make it go away – you have to call in a professional before it gets worse. At the first sign of slow-moving or clogged pipes in your facility, call an expert to come out and evaluate the damage to prevent an even greater issue.

DO: Call a Professional to Help with Your Facility’s Used Cooking Oil Disposal Practices

When considering a professional partner to collect and help with your facility’s used cooking oil disposal practices, it’s important to pick the right one. At Hulsey Environmental (a Blue Flow Company), we’ve been in the business of used cooking oil collection and recycling for over a century, and our technicians can be trusted to do a thorough job.

Call us today at 770-746-8520 or fill out our online contact form to learn more about how we can help with your facility’s used cooking oil disposal practices and protect your facility from a grease trap disaster.