Why Is It Important to Recycle Grease and Oil?
Cooking oil is often one of the biggest sources of waste in a commercial kitchen. This is due in large part to the fact that many people do not realize they can get more than one use out of cooking oil in many cases. Rather than disposing of cooking oil after it’s used, it can be stored and recycled for reuse either in cooking or in other applications.
Why is it important to recycle grease and oil? Here is a quick look at some of the benefits of recycling cooking grease and oil for you to consider.
Keeping your appliances and facilities in good condition
Improper disposal of used cooking greases and oils can result in significant damage to drains and kitchen appliances, which can cost a whole lot of money to repair. Just because it’s in liquid form when you send it down the drain does not mean it will stay that way. Over time, the oil will congeal and harden, causing a blockage in your building’s drainage or in local sewers.
Maintain regulatory compliance
Commercial kitchens are often subject to local regulations regarding oil waste handling. It’s important to maintain regulatory compliance with these guidelines, so you can avoid legal trouble and potential fines. Getting caught breaking these ordinances could result in unnecessarily financial losses and potential reputation damage.
Protect the environment
Recycling your cooking oil and grease in a proper manner ensures all of the waste stays out of the environment. This significantly cuts down on the potential risk of harm to natural resources, including water systems, soil and local animals and wildlife.
Excess animal fats and vegetable oils in the local environment can have significant, devastating impacts on waterways and aquatic life. In fact, in certain quantities, the effects can be as devastating as petroleum oil spills. All commercial kitchens should, therefore, do their part and properly dispose of or recycle their waste, so they do not contribute to potential environmental tragedies on a larger scale.
Cut down on potential health risks
When improperly disposed of, cooking oils could potentially cause health problems for your customers or community. Trapped oil, grease and fats can cause hazardous fumes to start emanating from your drains or other areas. There are also potential sewage issues associated with these oils, which can carry dangerous diseases and bacteria.
It’s in the best interest of everyone in your facility (and their health) for you to properly dispose of cooking oil to cut down on potential health risks that could affect everyone there.
These are just a few examples of some of the biggest reasons why it is so important for commercial kitchens to prioritize proper disposal of used cooking oils. If you have any questions about the best methods to use for oil and grease disposal in your commercial kitchen, we encourage you to contact us at Safeway Used Oil and Grease, and we will be happy to provide you with additional information about the responsibilities you have and the services we offer.
Categorised in: Cooking Oil Recycling