So you have a big outdoor event where you’ve generated a lot of used cooking oil. Now what do you do? Any consummate cook knows you never pour fats, oil, or grease down drains because it can cause sewers to back up, harms wildlife, and is expensive to clean up. Throwing it in the trash is an equally bad measure to take because leaks and spills do harm to the environment. Which leaves you with two options: find your local Regional Water Quality Treatment Plant and dispose of it on Household Hazardous Waste days or you can find a recycler, some of whom will buy it from you (depending upon the amount), who will convert it into biofuel.
Sequential is one such provider in California and Oregon. With recycling plants in Salem, Oregon and Bakersfield, CA, they don’t tend to do one-offs, but if the amount of oil is enough, they will drop a steel drum off before your event and pick it up after. If you are a restaurant or an event venue, they provide eco-tubs on wheels with locks (apparently used cooking oil theft is a thing since people can sell it for money) and pick it up on a routine schedule for free.
Most events don’t generate enough cooking oil to warrant a one-off collection, but some restaurants who participate in these recycling programs may be willing to let you drop off your oil. If you do generate upwards of 750 gallons, here in California, Grease Services will pick it up and pay your for it. According to their website, Grease Services “purchases used fryer grease, finished, and / or expired grease such as: olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil (rapeseed oil), pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil, rice bran oil, as well as animal-based oils like butter and lard. The quality and quantity for the product we collect will determine the purchase price for the product.” They still do regular pickups for less than 750 gallons but they charge $20 for the service. Still cheaper and considerably less hassle than disposing of it on your own.
For all things cleaning and events, PopUP CleanUP is your go-to provider. Please help create a sustainable planet by greening your grease.
