Option One: Disposal Bins

One common approach to handling used cooking oil is through disposal bins. These bins offer convenience, allowing kitchen staff to pour used oil into designated, on-site containers. However, while disposal bins have their merits, they come with a set of considerations

• Regular emptying: Disposal bins require frequent emptying to avoid overflowing, which can lead to spills, odors, and unsightly messes.
• Manual disposal: Unless you invest in a potentially expensive vacuum drainage system, your staff will have to carry the oil from the kitchen to the disposal bins, which can be labor-intensive, time-consuming, and hazardous.
• Unpleasant aesthetics: Let’s face it – used oil disposal bins are not the most aesthetically pleasing addition to a restaurant. They can disrupt the visual appeal of your business and should be kept out of customers’ view. They may also develop a smell with continued use or if they have to go long periods without emptying.
• Pest potential: Over time, deteriorating bins can leak and/or build up residue, which turns them into breeding grounds for pests like flies, posing hygiene risks and potential health hazards.
• Landfill contribution: The oil disposed of from a bin has to go somewhere, and conventional disposal means taking it to a landfill. Regulations on conventional disposal of used oil vary by state and local government. So finding a landfill that will accept the used oil may prove difficult. Even if you find one, it will still contribute to the landfill’s environmental impact.

Option Two: Oil Filtration

Cooking oil filtration is a proactive method that significantly contributes to sustainability while also benefiting your bottom line. This process involves passing used oil through specialized equipment to remove food particles and contaminants. Here’s why cooking oil filtration should be on your radar:

• Extended useful life: Filtration removes impurities, which extends the lifespan of your cooking oil. This means fewer oil changes and more cost savings.
• Cost efficiency: By using filtered oil, you reduce the frequency of purchasing new oil, resulting in significant cost savings over time.
• Reduced waste: Fewer oil changes means you’ll need to dispose of your oil less, thereby contributing to a decrease in waste generation.
• Better food quality: Filtering the impurities out of your cooking oil regularly will improve the taste of your food and prevent flavor bleed when cooking different types of food using the same oil.

While cooking oil filtration offers several advantages, it’s important to note that it doesn’t eliminate the need to eventually dispose of used oil. However, it does make the disposal process more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Option Three: Oil Recycling

When it comes to what to do with used cooking oil, recycling emerges as a standout option for sustainability and waste reduction. Cooking oil recycling involves repurposing used oil for various beneficial purposes, such as biofuel production and animal feed. Here’s why you should consider cooking oil recycling:

• Environmental impact: Recycling used oil reduces its impact on landfills and water sources, minimizing pollution and environmental harm.
• Resourceful repurposing: Recycled cooking oil can be transformed into biodiesel, which serves as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Processed used oil can also be a valuable ingredient in animal feed production and organic composting, contributing to sustainable agriculture.
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction: By providing used oil to produce biodiesel, oil recycling helps reduce GHG emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that biodiesel produces 74% less GHGs than petroleum-based diesel.

To make the most of cooking oil recycling, it’s advisable to work with a professional oil recycling service. While you can take your used cooking oil to a recycling center yourself, this means doing all the work and taking all the risks. You’ll have to properly collect the oil in sealed containers, locate your nearest recycling center that handles cooking oil, and schedule time and staff to take it there. All this can mean added expenses, a higher risk of accidents while moving and transporting large containers of used oil, and reduced staff productivity. A professional oil recycling service, meanwhile, is run by experts with the equipment and knowledge to handle the recycling process efficiently and responsibly.

Not an Option: Down the Drain

While trying to figure out what to do with used cooking oil, you may be tempted to dispose of it down a sink drain or other drainage opening. It’s very important you don’t do this. While disposing of liquid waste in this manner might seem like an easy solution, it causes far more problems than it solves. For one thing, oils contain fats, which solidify over time. These will build up in your drainpipes, especially in drain traps, slowing your drainage until it eventually starts backing up. This can lead to damaged pipes, expensive plumber calls, and possibly health code violations.

Speaking of violations, the dumping of used oil down drains is illegal. Oil and grease poured into sewer systems can build up into massive fatbergs that can clog large sections of sewer pipes, causing serious infrastructure damage and interrupted sewage services. If you’re found disposing of cooking oil down the drain, it can lead to fines and legal trouble.

Lastly, pouring oil down a drain may result in environmental harm. Clogged and damaged pipes can result in sewage spills, sewage leaking into the local waterways and water tables, and other environmental hazards. In short, disposing of cooking oil down the drain is never a good idea.

Choose the Best Solution for Your Kitchen

In the culinary world, every detail matters – including the responsible disposal of used cooking oil. Whether you opt for a disposal bin, embrace cooking oil filtration, or commit to cooking oil recycling, each choice you make contributes to a more sustainable and efficient kitchen operation.

Remember, the decisions you make today have a lasting impact on both your culinary creations and the environment. So, the next time you wonder what to do with used cooking oil, consider these disposal and recycling options, and take a step toward a greener, cleaner, and more cost-effective future for your commercial kitchen.

Eliminate Oil Waste with Filta

We’re eager to provide your commercial kitchen with a solution to your what to do with used cooking oil questions. We’re a van-based kitchen solution franchise that provides commercial kitchen owners and operators like you with a cooking oil disposal service, which includes deep fryer oil filtering to extend the life of your cooking oil, regular vacuum-based fryer cleaning, and oil removal and recycling services that are environmentally friendly, reduce safety hazards, and help you meet health and safety standards. We also offer additional services like regular drainage maintenance and cold storage humidity control. Request a free site evaluation and demo to learn more about what Filta can do for you.

The post What to Do with Used Cooking Oil: 3 Disposal & Recycling Options first appeared on Filta.

Oil Management & Fryer Cleaning for Commercial Kitchens

Whatever the industry, we’re ready to help your business with deep fryer oil management, kitchen cleaning, and more. Our customers go beyond fast-food franchises and restaurants; we service more than 8,500 customers every single week.

Industries We Serve

Here are some of the industries to which we provide oil management and kitchen cleaning services:

Restaurants

From quick service restaurants (QSRs) to full-service establishments, from fast-food franchises to independent, family-owned restaurants, commercial-grade deep fryers are a staple piece of equipment.

Bars

Many bars also serve food, and deep-fried food is one of the easiest kinds to prepare and serve.

Hospitals and Continuing Care

Hospitals and long-term care centers need to feed their long-term patients, and many of them operate a commercial kitchen to feed not only the patients, but their staff, too.

Entertainment Venues

Movie theaters, bowling alleys, amusement/theme parks, racetracks, and convention centers; concession stands that serve fried food can be found at all these entertainment/event venues.

Hotels and Casinos

The hospitality industry often involves feeding guests, and that means a commercial kitchen for attached restaurants and cafeterias.

Schools and Colleges

Hungry students need a cafeteria to serve them breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a cafeteria needs a commercial kitchen.

Grocery Stores

Many grocery stores offer pre-cooked food, including fried foods, which needs the right equipment to make it.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)/Lodges

Community and nonprofit organizations like the VFW often host fundraising events that involve food, or provide meals for their members during their meetings, and feeding that many people requires a commercial-grade kitchen.

Stadiums

Professional sports stadiums are full of vendors serving up tasty fried treats. Filta partners with many of these venues across the country to keep the fryers clean and the cooking oil fresh.

Other industries that we provide oil management and other services to include flower shops (with cold storage humidity control service), airports, corporate cafeterias, convenience stores, and churches.

Hear from Our Customers

You don’t have to take just our word on the quality of our services. Here are some statements from our customers:

“Filta has been cleaning our fryers for over two years. It has been wonderful to not worry about cleaning them. Filta comes in, gets the job done and leaves the restaurants cleaner than when they started.”

Michelle Phy Revenue Manager

“Having worked with Filta for the last four years, there hasn’t been a moment where we have questioned our commitment to partnering with them. There is great consistency in the quality of service they provide and they are always a pleasure to work with.”

Olivia HaistConcessions Manager

“I really like the service because we no longer have oil spills and we serve a better quality product.”

Aaron SmallFood Division Manager

"We're very happy with Filta's services. Not only are we doing good for the environment, but we also save money. It's a no brainer!"

Manny PortuondoCEO

“Zach came in and offered a trial. They cleaned the fryer once and the chicken strips were coming out golden brown instead of dark. I never have bad reviews and sales for my fried products have doubled since I started working with Filta.”

Dharmesh MakwanaOwner

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss our services and provide a quote.

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE

The post Industries We Serve first appeared on Filta.

Understanding the Difference between Greases

First, let’s clarify the distinction between yellow and brown grease. Yellow grease is an animal byproduct resulting from cooking processes. It’s considered “clean” grease because it typically only comes into contact with fresh or frozen food during cooking. Brown grease, on the other hand, is the grease collected in grease and waste traps. This type of grease is considered “contaminated” as it often encounters rotten food and dirty water in commercial drains.

While the yellow type of grease is suitable for a wide variety of industrial uses, the brown kind poses more of a challenge to render into anything useful. While it is possible to recycle brown grease, effective methods are still being worked on, while its yellow equivalent is much more easily processed into a useable material.

The Versatility and Value of Grease

Grease, most often in the form of used cooking oil, is a valuable resource with a wide range of applications:

• Biodiesel production: One of its primary uses is in the production of biodiesel, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
• Animal feed: Grease serves as an essential ingredient in animal feed production, contributing to sustainable agriculture.
• Industrial applications: It finds its way into various industrial products such as rubber, soap, clothing, detergent, and cosmetics.

The value of grease extends beyond its diverse applications. There’s a market for grease of the yellow variety, and it’s often purchased from restaurants and commercial kitchens in the form of used cooking oil for recycling. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a report on October 10, 2023 stating the yellow grease price range in the U.S. was from $48 to $59 per central weight (cwt). Additionally, Yahoo Finance News reported on April 17, 2023 the North American FOG market is expected to grow from $9.5 billion in 2022 to $25.6 billion by 2044.

This not only provides financial benefits to restaurant and commercial kitchen owners, but also promotes environmental responsibility.

Responsible Disposal of Grease

Now, let’s consider how to responsibly dispose of used cooking oil, ensuring both your business’s efficiency and environmental stewardship. One of the most efficient and hassle-free methods is to contract a third-party fryer cleaning service that takes the oil for recycling. These professionals will collect your used cooking oil on a regular schedule made for your convenience, often with little to no downtime for your kitchen staff. This approach eliminates the risk of accidents or spills for your employees and reduces pollution from oil discarded in landfills.

Another option is to transport your used cooking oil to recycling centers yourself. This approach offers greater control but requires time, effort, and finding a recycling center within a reasonable distance from your location.

Lastly, you can use traditional oil collection bins. While effective at getting rid of the oil, collecting used cooking oil in bins can present challenges. It can be hazardous for kitchen staff to empty oil from fryers into the bins. Additionally, these bins can attract pests, dim the aesthetics of your establishment, require regular emptying, and when emptied contribute to landfill pollution.

Used cooking oil, and the grease that comes from it, is a valuable resource with numerous applications and a market for recycling. By responsibly managing its disposal, you not only contribute to the sustainability of various industries but also reduce pollution and environmental harm. Consider the options available to you and choose the method that aligns best with your business’s needs and commitment to environmental responsibility. Properly handling oil and grease disposal is not just a business practice; it’s a sustainable choice that benefits your bottom line and the planet.

Consider Partnering with Filta

We’re thrilled to offer you our waste oil removal services. Our franchise offers a range of commercial kitchen services, including fryer cleaning, oil filtration, oil recycling, and more. We help you keep your kitchen clean, avoid health risks and safety hazards, keep staff downtime to a minimum, and reduce your carbon footprint. Request a free demo today and find out what we at Filta can do for you.

The post Yellow Grease: What It Is & How To Recycle It first appeared on Filta.

In 2022 the Miami-Dade franchise collected 23,000 gallons of cooking oil that was recycled into biodiesel. This prevented about 230 tons of carbon emissions. Using microfiltration, the franchise helped customers stretch the life of their current oil. This prevented them from buying another 21,000 gallons of oil. It also eliminated another 50 tons of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. This had a total positive impact of 280 tons of carbon emissions reduction for the year.

Three franchise territories serve South Florida: Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County. Nechuta co-owns the Miami-Dade franchise with Sergio Moya. Their business filters recycles oil into biodiesel from a host of commercial kitchens in restaurants. These include Cerveceria La Tropical in Wynwood (which was a major focus of the Miami Herald article) and hospitals like Jackson Health System and the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. They also work with universities like Florida International University and Miami-Dade College. Additionally, they service stadiums like LoanDepot Park where the Miami Marlins play and the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Furthermore Filta Miami-Dade works in corporate dining and kitchens at Telemundo, Royal Caribbean, FPL and the Burger King headquarters.

The article concludes with the following statement attributed to George Philippidis, director of the sustainable energy concentration at the University of South Florida: “There isn’t enough used cooking oil in the world to meet all of our fuel needs…but because biofuels made from used cooking oils emit less carbon than biofuels made from other feedstocks, it’s a good idea to recycle every drop of cooking oil companies like Filta can collect.”

To read the full Miami Herald article which was published on the front page of the Sunday, June 18 business section, click here. For more information about Filta ownership and the available territories, contact Rob Totten at rtotten@filta.com. Interested in Filta’s services including fryer cleaning, microfiltration, waste oil removal/recycling, please call 866-51-FILTA or visit GoFilta.com for 24-hour live chat.

The post Miami Herald: Filta’s Miami-Dade Franchisees Filtered, Collected Oil to Recycle for Biodiesel, Saving 280 Tons of Carbon Emission in 2022 first appeared on Filta.

Every staff member is an investment in the business. A happy employee is a productive employee, so helping workers do their jobs more effectively should be one of the top priorities managers need to cultivate within their operations. Here are 6 ways to promote a positive work culture to attract new talent and improve employee retention:

1. Recognize and Celebrate Employee Successes

Recognizing employee successes can go a long way when it comes to boosting employee morale. Workers who feel appreciated are more likely to take ownership of what they do, feel motivated, and perform better. A designated “Employee of the month” program, a gift card, or even letting them write their own schedule for a week are just some of the ways to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments and dedication.

2. Offer Free or Discounted Meals

Everyone who has ever worked in a restaurant knows that it is a labor-intensive job that sometimes leaves very little to no time for breaks. Working on an empty stomach can be not only frustrating but also dangerous as the fast-paced, high-heat environment can take a toll on the body. That’s why making sure that employees are well-fed before their shifts can have a positive impact on their overall productivity. Many restaurants decide to offer free or discounted meals to ensure that their staff is properly nourished and ready to tackle a busy shift.

3. Invite Employees to an Outing

Giving employees a way to unwind, bond, and have fun is a sure way to improve morale. Restaurant operators can do so by inviting their teams to attend group outings and team-building activities, such as bowling, go-karting, and escape rooms.

4. Provide Regular Training

Restaurant menus often change based on the season. A great way to promote engagement in employees is to bring them closer to the food that they are preparing by providing them with the necessary training. Offering regular teaching sessions on how to prepare the items along with an opportunity to taste them is an example of that.

5. Encourage Communication

Do you let your employees voice their opinions or offer feedback? Creating a safe space for restaurant workers to communicate their needs or concerns can be a great way to boost morale as it will make them feel valued and appreciated. Restaurant managers can allocate time for that by setting up pre-shift meetings and line-ups where they communicate changes, define goals, and answer questions from the staff.

6. Outsource a Difficult and Risky Job

Working in the back of a restaurant requires intensive training as employees are expected to handle sharp tools, hot surfaces, and heavy objects. But sometimes even the most skilled employee can become injured due to a work-related accident. One of the best ways to demonstrate genuine care to your employees is to outsource a risky and unpleasant job, such as fryer cleaning. Maintaining clean fryers and changing cooking oil is one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in a restaurant kitchen. Outsourcing the management of fryers and oil to companies like Filta is becoming more and more common as savvy operators not only understand the impact on food quality but also see an opportunity to improve employee safety and morale.

Employee turnover is a common problem across the food service industry but, while not easy, it is not impossible to overcome. By ensuring safe working conditions, a friendly environment, and opportunities for growth, restaurant operators have a better chance of retaining their employees.

The post 6 Ways to Boost Restaurant Employee Morale first appeared on Filta.