The Benefits of Used Cooking Oil Recycling for Your Business

September 8, 2023

Kitchens at restaurants use cooking oil in large quantities on a daily basis. However, once chefs have finished preparing the meals, the leftover oil is sometimes carelessly poured down the sink in the kitchen. Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause many problems in the long run. Therefore, restaurant owners are urged to recycle their used cooking oil rather than dispose of them irresponsibly down the drain or anywhere else that’s not supposed to.

To get you started, here are ten benefits of recycling used cooking oil:

1. Prevents clogged kitchen pipes

As a busy business owner of a bustling restaurant, the last thing you need would be a congested plumbing system that interferes with your kitchen operations. Cooking oil residue will gradually clog or damage pipes when it is poured down the drain. Over time, the oil will solidify, expand, and cause pesky obstructions that can be costly to remove.

The easiest way to avoid plumbing obstructions is to arrange regular used cooking oil pickups with a reliable used cooking oil collecting company for recycling. Using expert services to dispose of used cooking oil properly helps stop the waste from clogging the pipes in the kitchen in the first place. 

2. Protect local sewer lines

When you choose to recycle your used oil, your restaurant's plumbing system is immediately safeguarded from costly damages. In addition to that, the sewer lines in your neighbourhood area will also be protected. When used cooking oil is poured down sewer pipes, drainage is obstructed, resulting in sewer damage that cannot be repaired and water overflowing into the streets.

3. Create renewable energy source

With today’s modern innovation, leftover cooking oil can be transformed into biodiesel and be reused by all. Biodiesel fuels, a renewable substitute for petroleum-based diesel fuels, are used in diesel engines to power machinery, heat buildings, and power cars. Most biodiesel fuels are made from used cooking oil and soybean oil. By recycling your used cooking oil, you will also become an innovator of renewable energy sources in Singapore!

4. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The ozone layer, which shields the earth from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, is seriously threatened by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. Another negative effect of greenhouse gas emissions is global warming and climate change – which we all have started to experience in recent years. 

Biodiesel fuels can be produced by recycling used cooking oil. Because they are clean, biodiesel fuels reduce pollution. Utilising biodiesel fuels also reduces carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, biodiesel fuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and other machinery by up to 90 per cent. Imagine what you can do for the environment by just recycling your used cooking oil!

5. Reduces reliance on oil imports

Restaurants that recycle their used cooking oil help reduce the nation's reliance on imported oil. Dependence on local biodiesel resources lessens possible risks to the country's economic health and national security, particularly in the event of an oil embargo.

6. Reduces repair cost

As previously said, recycling used cooking oil will keep the plumbing in the kitchen from being damaged. An additional advantage is that engaging an oil collection and recycling company to dispose of cooking oil properly will save you money by avoiding the cost of fixing a broken or clogged pipe.

7. Adherence to local law

In several countries in the world, it's against the law to pour used cooking oil down the drain. In some countries, breaking the rules on the disposal of used cooking oil can result in hefty fines or even jail time. To comply with local laws, you must engage the service of a certified used oil collecting company to ensure that your waste oil is disposed of properly.

8. Maintains a sterling reputation

A restaurant's reputation may suffer if they are caught dumping 30 to 50 gallons of wasted cooking oil down a sewer drain. After this video of a fast food restaurant employee pouring used cooking oil down a storm drain went viral, other restaurants came under fire for their waste oil disposal policy. Likewise, your restaurant's reputation will not be tarnished if oil waste disposal standards are followed.

9. Supports local economy

By engaging in local used oil collecting services, restaurants will help this business generate revenue for their company. Engaging with local service providers will also help build up the local economy because more than half of every $100 spent with local businesses stays in the area.

10. Creates new job opportunities

Large-scale cooking oil recycling generates additional revenue that not only stays in the area but also aids in creating new jobs in the domains of engineering, technology, accounting, marketing, and training—additionally, surplus revenue act as a stimulant for local enterprises in growing sectors.

Conclusion

Restaurant owners who support the recycling and proper collection of used cooking oil are indeed responsible business owners. To get started, restaurant businesses can arrange to pick up used cooking oil with a reputable waste oil collection company. If you’re still hesitating, consult the building control department and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) for information on properly disposing of cooking oil.

Prior to collection, place the storage containers containing used cooking oil away from the sewer drain to avoid spills or leaks into the sewage system. Utilise airtight containers to control bad smells and prevent vermin infestations in the restaurant. It also helps to use and empty the grease trap regularly.

Employees should be trained and instructed not to pour used cooking oil into the kitchen sink or the storm drain. In your staff handbook, include procedures for handling used cooking oil properly. Collaborate with a business that collects wasted cooking oil, like HCH Corp Singapore. Need more info about our waste oil collection services at HCH Corp? Please don’t hesitate to contact us here.