Used cooking oil is one of the major waste products that is easily produced. It is estimated that America produces 2.5 billion tons of used cooking oil annually. These are huge figures and failure to manage and dispose of it properly could lead to an environmental catastrophe.

To curb this, waste management companies are striving to build up their capacity in used cooking oil collection.

They are doing this by employing more people into their companies and developing more linkages with entities and homes from which they collect the used cooking oil.

Different ways of used cooking oil collection

Waste management companies have employed different methods to collect used cooking oil. One of the major ways employed to collect used cooking oil is a door to door strategy. In this way, waste managers and recyclers provide cooking oil collection bins and collect the used cooking oil themselves from those that they have provided with bins.

Secondly, is that, the waste collection entity can set up a location that is convenient for those that produce the used cooking oil to which they can deliver their waste product for recycling.

Advantages of used cooking oil collection

To the waste management company

By collecting used cooking oil, the waste management company gains some advantages to itself. First is that it will never lack raw material to recycle. With the increasing demand of used cooking oil, there are a number of companies competing for the cooking oil from the same individuals and entities. Those organizations that invest in collection will always have consistent supply.

Secondly, by collecting the used cooking oil, they waste management companies have the opportunity to sensitize the communities from which they collect on the importance of proper disposal of used cooking oil.

Third, is that with a large quantity of collected used cooking oil, the recycler can produce a range of products for sale such as pet food, livestock feed and biofuels from the used cooking oil.

To the producing entity

Those that produce used cooking oil whether homes or commercial entities also enjoy some advantages by having oil collected from their premises.

The first advantage is that they are able to save on disposal costs. Rather than having to buy disposal bins for themselves, they are provided to them by the waste management firm.

Secondly, homes and entities are able to save on their water utility bills. Without fat clogging their pipes, water is able to flow efficiently from their sinks.

As a source of extra income. This is another advantage accrued to the producer of the used cooking oil. Often, the collector of the used cooking oil pays the producer to collect oil from them.

Fourth, is that the producer of the used cooking oil is able to transfer the burden of complying with waste management regulations regarding used cooking oil to the collector. As the waste management company, an agreement between the two entities ensures that used cooking oil is always collected on time.

To the environment

Collection of used cooking oil is highly favorable to the environment. First, efficient collection of used cooking oil ensures that there is no pollution of the environment. Where the used cooking oil is not collected, it is often poured down the drain. This leads to clogging of pipes. In addition, there is an added disaster to the environment through the production of noxious and toxic smells from the clogged pipes.

Second, used cooking oil is a cheap source of bio-fuel. As a result, it can help reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy. The production and use of coal and oil has been the biggest cause of global warming the world over. Bio fuel will help control their use and production.

To energy users

The collection and recycling of used cooking oil is also beneficial to fuel users. With the increased production of cheaper and renewable bio-fuel, fuel consumers can be assured of cheaper and convenient energy sources.