Timeframes for grease decomposition vary depending on the kind of grease in question and how it’s been used. Generally, vegetable oils like sunflower and olive oil decompose faster than animal fats. This is because microorganisms in the soil can consume these natural oils and break them down into simple compounds. The same cannot be said for animal fats, which not only don’t decompose easily but can also cause serious harm to earthworms and various microorganisms.

While applying small amounts vegetable oils to the soil may not be environmentally harmful, it can ultimately do more harm than good.

If you’re an Atlanta business owner whose industrial kitchen produces large amounts of fats, oils and grease, you should always dispose of cooking waste byproducts properly. At Southern Green Industries, we offer environmentally friendly fryer oil recycling services. When you partner with us, you can rest assured we’ll collect the oil on a regular basis and pay you for giving us the opportunity to recycle it into biodiesel fuel.

How to Safely Dispose of Used Cooking Oil

Reuse It

Reusing oil at home is generally safe when cooking potatoes and vegetables. However, be cautious about cooking meat or fish repeatedly in the same oil. If your reused oil has a cloudy appearance or foam formed on the surface and it has a rancid smell, it’s time to toss it out.

The rule is different for businesses where oil generally shouldn’t be reused after several rounds of filtering or once it’s been removed from a fryer.

Freeze It

If you plan on reusing your cooking oil at home in the future, consider freezing it. This way, you can safely store it in a freezer and prevent messy spills in your kitchen. Once the oil cools, place it into an airtight and well-sealed container. Place the oil in the freezer for up to two years.

Throw It Away

If you choose to throw away used oil, make sure to do it the correct way. Once the oil cools, pour it into well-sealed a non-recyclable container and place it in your garbage can.

Recycle It

The best way for commercial kitchens to responsibly dispose of used cooking oil is to recycle it. Businesses can get paid for recycled oil that’s turned into biodiesel, which is an environmentally friendly alternative to regular fuel.

There are many waste management companies in Atlanta, including Southern Green Industries, that will do the recycling for you. We offer a convenient dashboard our commercial customers can use to clearly see and track how much waste oil we collect and the credits they are receiving for their recycled oil.

Can I Pour Cooking Oil Down the Drain?

You should never pour cooking oil down the drain. It may clog your plumbing system, resulting in costly damage and repairs. A grease clog may also cause water to back up in your kitchen sinks and toilets, which may lead to flooding that forces you to suspend your business operations for an indefinite amount of time.

As long as you properly recycle or throw away oil, you should never have to pour it down the drain.

How Can My Business Prevent Fryer Oil Spills or Mishaps?

Emptying fryers and moving oil to waste oil collection receptacles can be back-breaking work. Oil, especially from large fryers, can be extraordinarily heavy. If spilled, it can create a massive mess that’s difficult to clean. Unfortunately, workers in commercial kitchens can slip while carrying oil or accidentally drop waste oil containers that are too heavy or slippery.

Southern Green Industries can install an integrated oil management system (iOMS) that will transfer waste oil directly from your fryer into an appropriately sized container for your business. We can even schedule periodic automatic pickup to completely automate the waste oil recycling process. This can greatly decrease the risk of injury or messy spills that will cost your business time and money.

Contact Southern Green Industries for Your Used Oil Recycling and Grease Trap Maintenance Needs

Our Atlanta-based company specializes in grease trap cleaning and fryer oil recycling services. Whether you own a mom-and-pop restaurant or a multi-location franchise, we’ll meet your business’s unique service needs.

We strive to be Atlanta’s go-to fryer oil recycling company. We’ll provide your business with complementary oil collection containers, collect your used oil on a regular basis, recycle it into biodiesel and pay you top dollar for your waste oil.

To get your free quote, call (404) 419-6887.