According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American is responsible for producing around 4.51 pounds of waste per day – an astonishing amount when you consider the population of the entire country. While most cities are only able to keep 10-20% of solid waste out of landfills, it’s quite a different story in and around San Francisco, California.
With the goal being to ultimately produce zero waste, the Bay Area has led environmentally conscious efforts across the United States for years. The city of San Francisco, on an average year, keeps roughly 80% of its waste out of landfills. A huge part of that success is a dedication from residents and businesses to recycle anything and everything possible – including used cooking oil. As the longest-running biofuel producer on the West Coast, SeQuential explains how our Bay Area restaurant services and recycling stations are boosting the rising trend of salvaging used cooking oil for renewable fuel production.
Trending Since the New Millennium
The prospect of utilizing renewable fuel as an alternative fuel gained major popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. By recycling and refining used cooking oil from eateries and residences, companies like SeQuential began offering renewable fuel compatible with diesel engines in an effort to help the environment
Fast-forward to 2009, when San Francisco passed legislation that made recycling and composting mandatory for all businesses and residences. Desiring to fully do their part, Bay Area business owners and home chefs realized that beyond plastic and paper products, they could even recycle used cooking oil.
Reaping the Benefits
Aligning with the city’s commitment to reducing waste, people throughout the Bay Area continue to love the additional environmental benefits offered by renewable fuel. These include:
Renewable and sustainable
Cooking oils are derived from plants – not drilling, hydrofracking, or other harmful energy practices. That means renewable fuel, which is made from recycled used cooking oil, won’t dry up Earth’s natural resources, making it easy and environmentally safe to replenish.
Safe for habitats and ecosystems
The fats, oils, and greases (FOG) in used cooking oil eventually solidify. When disposed of improperly, FOG can wreak havoc on nature. Flooding and backwashes from affected plumbing systems can invade habitats and ecosystems and harm wildlife, as well as destroy nearby crops and fields. FOG could also make its way into waterways and systems, causing contamination.
Decreased air pollution
Compared to petroleum, renewable fuel’s lifecycle emissions are roughly 75% less. Renewable fuel always burns cleanly, and with countless renewable fuel stations throughout California, it leads to far fewer emissions from our transport vehicles compared to fuel companies that deliver cross-country or overseas.
Plus, utilizing our Bay Area restaurant services helps countless business owners stay in compliance with city codes, avoid catastrophic damage and costly repairs. When used cooking oil is disposed of improperly through a drain, it not only threatens natural habitats but also leaves kitchens flooded with consequences. Foul odors, clogged pipes, and standing sludge piles throughout the premises are common downfalls, and in some cases, plumbing and associated kitchen equipment might have to be replaced completely.
Join the Renewable Fuel Movement Today
Used cooking oil recycling in the Bay Area and across the West Coast isn’t just a trend – it’s proving to become a way of life. From protecting the environment and ecosystems to supporting the production of clean and renewable fuel, it’s no wonder SeQuential’s Bay Area grease trap maintenance services for restaurants is always in demand. To learn more, contact SeQuential today.