Houston Used Cooking Oil Services

What equipment do I need in my business for handling used cooking oil? 

Every commercial kitchen needs a container to store the used cooking oil in and a reliable method to move the oil from your fryer to the storage container. These used cooking oil storage containers can be outdoor bins or indoor tanks. Depending on your needs, there are various ways to transfer the used oil safely and efficiently.  

Outdoor containers tend to be the most common method of containing grease for used cooking oil recycling. While it is the most frequently used method, there are a fair number of drawbacks, including an unsightly appearance, a potential for noxious odors (especially in the warm & humid Houston climate), contamination with rainwater, and a potential for attracting pests. Also, there is a potential for thieves to steal your used cooking oil, which can mean lost profits for rebate programs offered by most Houston used cooking oil service companies. 

Indoor bins may seem daunting and expensive for most commercial kitchens, but many kitchen managers would be surprised at the ability of their limited kitchen spaces to accommodate indoor bins. These indoor bins circumvent all of the drawbacks associated with outdoor bins and can be serviced just as easily as the outdoor variety. 

Contact us today to schedule a time for one of the expert technicians to visit your location and assess the type of fryers you are using, your volume of grease, frequency of pickup, and offer the best system for your kitchen’s needs. We can recommend which solution best suits your kitchen to provide the best service for your establishment. 

Do I need an outdoor bin or indoor used oil storage system? 

Every establishment has different needs for storing used cooking oil, so there’s more than one possible solution. Typically, most restaurant managers use an outside bin to store their used oil, usually placed in the vicinity of the trash/recycling area to keep it from public view. While a workable solution, outdoor bins have some disadvantages:

• Reduced curb appeal, where the smell of used cooking oil can negatively affect your customers’ appetites 
• Employees are saddled with the dirty job of  hand-carrying the hot grease from the kitchen to the outdoor bin, risking injury and accidental spills 
• Outdoor bins are open invitations to grease theft and contamination. If used cooking oil is stolen, contaminated by rainwater or trash, the value of your grease can be significantly lower, which could mean lower, or no, rebate from your service provider 

Moving your used oil storage indoors solves all of these issues. While many kitchen managers and business owners think they don’t have room for an indoor tank, the truth is that Houston Used Cooking Oil Services can provide a solution that works with your needs and available space. 

Contact us today to learn more about how outdoor or indoor collection can work for you. 

What do I do if my indoor tank has overflowed? 

Accidents happen, and overflowing grease is one of the more dangerous incidents that can occur in a restaurant or food service establishment.  

If you are dealing with overflowing grease, here’s what you can do in the short-term to help your business avoid a catastrophe: 

• Do not add any more fresh or used cooking oil to the tank. You may need to block off the disposal pipes until a technician arrives. 
• Use a large volume container to collect any dripping oil until service is provided. 
• Block off the area to employee or customer access and use signage to prevent slipping and injury. 
• Apply an absorbent material on any spilt grease to keep it from spreading. Typical materials include such as kitty litter, oil dry or quick dry. 

If disaster strikes, we’re here to help immediately.  Contact Houston Used Cooking Oil Service now to resolve your issues and create a strategy to nature that this problem doesn’t occur again. 

How long does it take to remove used cooking oil from my bin? 

The average collection time for removing used cooking oil is 15 minutes. However, this can be shorter or longer depending on the size of your tank and how much oil is inside. The fuller the tank, the longer it takes. 

Another concern is the company you hire.  Other Houston used cooking oil recycling companies use older equipment, which can delay the process. We are proud to use top-of-the-line pumps and expert technicians so your grease is taken care of in the shortest time possible. 

How long has Houston Used Cooking Oil Services been in business? 

We’ve been serving Houston businesses reliably since 1994. Because we’ve been in business for more than two decades, your business can gain the peace of mind from one of Houston’s most trusted service providers for used cooking oil recycling. 

What happens to my used cooking oil after it is picked up from my business? 

After our technicians have removed the used cooking oil from your business, it is taken to one of our processing facilities. Once at the processing facility, the used cooking oil is strained to remove contaminants  and impurities (such as grill bits and debris), heated to remove water and kill off any pathogens, and ultimately marketed as a commodity.  

Who picks up my grease? 

Houston Used Cooking Oil Service employs trained and certified personnel to pick up your grease efficiently. Our technicians are uniformed with Houston Used Cooking Oil Services logos and arrive in our branded trucks to ensure that your establishment is serviced by the best. We never use subcontractors for used cooking oil recycling. 

Be aware that there are plenty of thieves that target businesses, using equipment that can damage your equipment. Unless you see our logo, it may be likely that unscrupulous individuals are stealing from you. 

What happens if I need my UCO picked up more often? 

Part of our longevity in the industry is prompt service when you need it. We pride ourselves on top-notch customer service and devising a pickup schedule that anticipates your needs. If your used cooking oil volume has changed (increased or decreased) since you signed on as a customer, call us today to devise a schedule that meets your needs. 

Why is used cooking oil valuable? 

Used cooking oil recycling is a necessary business that not only maintains the cleanliness of your establishment, but can make a positive impact on the environment. It can be used as a clean-burning energy source, a source of nutrients in animal feed, or processed for use in several common household/commercial products, including tires, paints, solvents, and much more.  

Houston Used Cooking Oil Services offers a rebate program for used oil that we service. We provide discounts on future service calls that can mean more profits overall – especially for a product that is normally considered waste. 

Should I put used cooking oil in my compost pile? 

In small amounts, used cooking oil can be fine for your compost pile; however, there are a number of drawbacks: 

• The unpleasant odor of used grease can attract rodents and other pests. 
• The smell can cause complaints from neighboring residences and may violate local municipal codes. 
• Pathogens can proliferate in the compost, which can slow down or even halt the compost action. 

For these reasons and more, it is best to dispose of restaurant and residential grease with a dedicated service provider or utilize Houston’s municipal waste programs. 

Will you pick up my turkey grease after Thanksgiving or cookouts? 

We currently do not offer Houston used cooking oil recycling services for residential disposal. While you may produce a large amount of grease deep frying your turkey, these amounts are best disposed of in Houston’s municipal waste deposit programs. 

Does Houston Used Cooking Oil Services recycle motor oil? 

No, we only recycle used cooking oils from businesses.  

Unfortunately, used motor oil requires a more extensive process to refine and is best left to experts that special in this industry. Motor oil contains a number of dangerous chemicals that adversely affect local groundwater, vegetation, or water supplies, so we leave disposal of motor oil to trained professionals in the energy industry. For these reasons and more, used motor oil should never be poured onto the ground or down a drain. 

If you have motor oil to discard, contact your city or local automotive retailer to ask if about safe drop-off locations. Many cities in the Houston area offer periodic hazardous waste collection days, which store your old motor oil safely and drop it off at those events.  

What is the rebate program for used cooking oil recycling? 

Most Houston used cooking oil service companies offer a program that allows for a portion of your bill to be paid for through an exchange program.  

Considering that unprocessed kitchen grease can be used as a clean energy source, nutrition supplement for livestock, and even help in the production of many household products, companies offer rebate programs to ease the cost of removing used cooking oil from your establishment. The amount of your rebate is based on a number of factors, such as the volume of grease produced, frequency of service, quality of your oil, and more. 

Contact Houston Used Cooking Oil Services today to learn more about our used cooking oil recycling program and whether your establishment qualifies. 

Do thieves really steal grease from restaurants? 

Believe it or not, but there are a large number of criminals that target businesses for their unused kitchen grease. While this may seem like a victimless crime, the truth is that restaurants lose a portion of their grease that can earn a substantial rebate. Furthermore, many grease thieves tend to damage locked outdoor grease bins and usually don’t care about leaving a mess for establishments to clean up. Indoor grease bins are the best defense against these criminals to ensure that your business doesn’t have to pay for cleanup, replacement of equipment, or lose potential rebates due to loss and/or contamination.