Used cooking oil recycling is one of the best choices you can make for your business and one that benefits the environment and local community as well. Now that you’ve committed to this sustainable practice, it’s important to follow safety and hygiene procedures for used cooking oil collection at your restaurant or foodservice facility. This is especially relevant when transferring used oil from your kitchen to the collection container. To institute best practices in your kitchen, check out a few tips from SeQuential.
Always Let Oil Cool before Moving
When used in a deep fryer or other equipment, cooking oil is heated to boiling temperatures. Train staff to wait until it has fully cooled before transport to an oil collection container. Doing so reduces the risk of burns, as well as messy, dangerous spills.
Use the Buddy System
The size of your business, the number of customers you serve, and the type of food prepared all determine the amount of used cooking oil generated in your commercial kitchen each day. This adds up to a substantial volume for many facilities, which makes transport a challenge. Cooking oil is extremely dense and heavy, and it may often be too heavy for a single person to carry safely. Encourage employees to partner up when taking used cooking oil to the collection bin, even if they think they can handle the weight alone. It will be easier to lift and pour as well as carry, reducing the risk of sticky spills and added cleanup.
Check Bin Levels Regularly
Before you pour any used cooking oil into your collection bin, check how full the container is. When oil is added after the bin reaches maximum capacity, it will overflow and create a dangerous mess. Instead, eyeball the level of the container to ensure there is plenty of room to fit the oil produced during the day. SeQuential works with all customers to coordinate a pickup schedule that matches their rate of production, but if you need us to come more quickly, simply contact our service team to schedule a pickup.
Keep the Bin Clean
Keeping your collection container clean and free of debris is another easy way to make collection safer and more hygienic. If you notice that oil pours in slowly or won’t go down, a clogged grate could be to blame. If the grate isn’t cleaned regularly, food particles will accumulate and block the flow of oil. Scrape any solid debris off the top grate and properly dispose of it in a nearby trash receptacle to help prevent clogs and reduce the risk of splashes. Doing so makes oil disposal simple and ensures pure, clean oil that can easily be recycled into renewable fuel.
Prioritize Safe, Hygienic Used Cooking Oil Collection and Transport
By following these practices at your business and sharing them with your employees, you can make transferring used cooking oil into its container a breeze. To make recycling the oil even easier, SeQuential will provide you with a free collection bin and lock for your business after you sign up for our used cooking oil collection services. This will help keep your container free of unwanted trash and make the recycling process simple. To get started or learn more about our services, contact us today.