What do most restaurants have in common? Well, grease traps because most states and municipalities require them. But also, they have a deep fryer. From the humble burger joint to the five star, there will always be something that needs to be deep-fried. And with deep fryers comes large amounts of cooking oil, and that means having to dispose of it. And because grease dumping is illegal, this usually means storing it onsite until enough of it accumulates for it to get hauled away.
Understanding the Value of Your Waste Vegetable Oil
Waste cooking oil, also known as Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO), has turned from a waste product into a commodity as gas prices and state and federal laws have made bio-diesel and other oil-based products more valuable. Today large producers of WVO can use the sale of their byproduct to bio-diesel refineries to help offset costs. While the cost changes from area to area depending on bio-diesel manufacturer prices, even at around $.25 a gallon that means $25 per drum of oil. As such, WVO theft is on the rise, in the same criminal field scrap metal or pawned electronics.
Preventing Used Cooking Oil Theft
Bio-diesel definers don’t look too hard at who supplies them, and therefore you’ve got thefts from people dragging the grease container away to cutting the locks off of barrels, along with larger heists that use tanker trucks and pose as haulers. Here are some tips to dissuade would-be thefts, especially if your waste oil has been stolen before.
Get Secure WVO Containers
If you’re partnering with a WVO service, they’ve probably offered secure containers for use or sale to you. Take them up on the offer, especially for systems with built-in locks and anti-tamper systems. For larger WVO containers, think about having one securely installed on site.
Use Video Surveillance
Another great way to keep an eye on your WVO containers (as well as dumpsters and compactors) is by installing a camera system to monitor them. Installed alongside a motion sensor light, these can help scare off would-be thieves.
Have Your Staff Employ Best Practices
Make sure your staff knows how to safely use the WVO containers, as well as how to keep them secure. Also make sure they know the name of the WVO service you use, in case someone approaches telling them they are there to remove the waste cooking oil.
Watch Out for Fake WVO Service
Some companies may promise a return on investment and then disappear, but others will even go a step further and dump your oil down the sewers after charging you a fee. Make sure you can confirm the company exists and learn who they are selling your oil to.
Make Sure You Partner with a WVO Specialist
Here at Food Grease Trappers, our program is run with honesty and integrity. We want to make sure that you’re happy, but also that the companies that receive your WVO work to better the local community and the environment. We know about theft and provide locking barrel lids and dumpsters. Our WVO services can be done separately or as part of a service plan alongside your grease trap servicing. Want to learn more? Contact us today.
