For a restaurant owner, managing used cooking oil is a necessary but often messy and tedious chore. DIY methods can be time-consuming and inconvenient, not to mention pose the risk of burns, slips and other safety hazards. Thankfully, utilizing a used cooking oil collection and disposal service is much safer and can save you time, money and energy. But which type of service is right for you? To help you better understand your options, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of standard versus automated methods for your used cooking oil collection and disposal.
Standard Cooking Oil Collection
Standard container collection is the most commonly used method in the used cooking oil collection industry. These containers often meet the needs of most of our customers. This method involves manually scooping or pumping oil out of a fryer into a container that then must be removed from the building. While it can be labor-intensive for workers, it is usually a cost-effective option for smaller businesses. The size of the collection containers and systems is dependent on the volume of your business' oil. Some limiting factors include:
- Storage: Used oil containers usually take up valuable kitchen space, and improper storage can lead to leaks and odors.
- Frequency: Standard storage containers will need to be emptied more often to prevent leaks.
Automated Cooking Oil Disposal
Unlike standard containers, automated systems go directly into a filtration system. With a simple switch, oil gets vacuumed into a sealed vessel, eliminating the need for any manual handling. While it can be more expensive, for businesses with high volumes of used cooking oil, automated disposal is usually a better alternative. Benefits include:
- Space: These systems often have a smaller footprint than traditional containers, freeing up valuable kitchen real estate.
- Flexible Schedule: Automated systems typically have a larger capacity and automatically alert when it’s time for collection when full, eliminating the need for monitoring and frequently scheduling pickups.
- Safety: Automation minimizes employee contact with hot oil, reducing the risk of accidents.
Let Us Help
Our experts at Allied Renewal will work with you to determine an oil collection solution based on your oil collection needs. No matter which collection and disposal method you choose, we work with our customers to design a system that meets their needs, and reduces as much labor and risk as possible. Contact us today for a free consultation!
