Managing Used Cooking Oil in Commercial Kitchens

November 24, 2020

Managing Used Cooking Oil in Commercial Kitchens

Any one who works in a commercial kitchen or large catering environment will tell you that the grease gets everywhere!

Large scale cooking, frying or baking with cooking oils, such as rapeseed oil or vegetable oil, means there is a lot of waste oil that is not only difficult to clean, but can get into drainage systems, if not managed correctly, and cause blockages in the sewer system. These blockages, sometimes called fat bergs, can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to remove and clean away. Waste oil is also a pollutant and so it’s essential that it is kept out of the waterways for environmental reasons. These are some of the reasons that waste cooking oil disposal and management is now closely governed.

Keeping oil out of the sewers

The problems of fat bergs, fines and pollution caused by cooking oils and grease can be avoided if you manage the disposal of your commercial cooking oils carefully.

For example, if your greasy pots and pans are washed or rinsed in sinks, then the residual oil will enter the drains, where it will cool and cling to the pipes. Over time, this will build up causing drainage, flow and odour problems.

Steps you can take to reduce the chances of this happening in your kitchen, include:

Not pouring any fats, grease or cooking oil down the sinks
Train and educate your staff on the consequences of pouring used cooking oils and fats down the drain
Pour used cooking oils into a container, before then cool and set
Wipe all pots and pans that have grease residue with a disposable paper towel before washing
Install a sink strainer or grease tap to catch any grease before it enters the sewers
Hire a registered and reputable waste collection company to collect your waste cooking oils

What is a grease trap?

A grease trap is a device installed in the drainage pipes of a kitchen to stop waste oil flowing into the sewer system. These traps separate the grease from the water, and retain it within the trap. It can then cool and set. Once filled the trap can be emptied and the grease disposed of properly.

Whilst it may not be always be a requirement of your local authority to have a grease trap installed, as a responsible business owner, having one fitted will lower your environmental impact, make it easier for your staff in the kitchen and help you to avoid costly plumbing issues that could arise if your drains get blocked with fat and oil. Just remember to have cleaned and emptied regularly to maintain its efficiency.

Waste Cooking Oil Collections

The most effective way to manage the used cooking oil from your kitchen is to collect it in specialist containers, and store it safely. This way it can be collected by a reliable waste oil company, such as Cater Oils.

Cater Oils offer comprehensive cooking oil services to commercial clients, this includes: