What is Used Cooking Oil used for and what can you do with it?

Virtually all the used cooking oil our company collects from restaurants, supermarkets and other food service establishments is used to produce renewable diesel. Demand for sustainable fuel is high, and used cooking oil is an inexpensive, sustainable feedstock. The used cooking oil is dewatered and cleaned at our processing facilities and used in the production of renewable diesel (we co-own a renewable diesel refinery with Valero Energy in Louisiana). Co-products of renewable diesel production are renewable propane, renewable butane and naphtha, which is used in solvents, paint thinners, varnish, plastics and more.

Processed used cooking oil can also be used as a nutritional supplement for animal feed.

DAR PRO Solutions offers used cooking oil collection (UCO) and grease trap services to restaurants, supermarkets and others in the hospitality industry. These FAQs focus on used cooking oil in a general sense - how is used cooking oil utilized, how to dispose of used cooking oil safely, what to do with your home cooking oil, and recycling your Thanksgiving turkey grease.

How do I select a used cooking oil service provider?

In today's culture of social responsibility, it pays to make sure the company picking up your oil is a worthy partner with the resources to do its job well, will be there long term, will invest in your success and use your cooking oil in a sustainable manner. A few questions to ask a potential partner are:

  • How will you make life easier for my store and my employees?
  • You claim my oil will be biofuel, but how do I know that for sure?
  • What kind of investments has your company made in biofuel production, or other ways of using my grease?
  • How long have you been in business?
  • Do you own or lease your fleet, and do your own employees make service calls?
  • What hours are customer service reps available, in case of after-hour questions?
  • Are you familiar with our city's latest grease trap regulations?

For a more complete look at how to choose a reliable partner, and how DAR PRO Solutions answers these questions, read our whitepaper.

How much used cooking oil is generated in a year?

According to the National Renderers Association, approximately 4.4 billion pounds of used cooking oil is collected annually from restaurants, grocers, hotels and casinos, and other foodservice providers in the US and Canada.

What happens to my used cooking oil after it’s picked up from my store?

After our service tech has removed the used cooking oil from your store, we take it to one of our 80-plus local processing facilities scattered across the country.

How is used cooking oil recycled?

Once it is at our facility, it is put through strainers to remove contaminants (grill bits and debris), heated to remove water and kill off any pathogens, and marketed as a commodity whose value is tracked and published daily. From there, the refined material is shipped by railcar to our Diamond Green Diesel plant located in Norco, Louisiana. It’s used in the production of renewable diesel that we make ourselves. The facility is on pace to produce over 600 million gallons of oil this year alone.

Why recycle used cooking oil?

Rather than asking how to dispose of used oil, think in terms of how it can be recovered and reused. Some restaurants believe that their used cooking oil can be poured down the drain (BAD IDEA!) or thrown out with the garbage (a slightly less bad idea). Drains clog, and greasy garbage smells even worse than regular garbage. Instead, restaurant managers should think in terms of used cooking oil collection and recycling. The are many advantages to doing this:

  • Improve your curb appeal (bad smells don't encourage a customer's appetite)​

  • Save your kitchen drains and plumber bill​

  • Avoid fines and down time if your grease trap should overflow from clogged grease in the pipes​

  • Realize the potential of rebates for your used cooking oil​

  • Know you are helping the planet by helping to recycle otherwise unusable material into something of value​

  • Support your company's sustainability goals​

Can you recycle any type of cooking oil?

Yes, you can recycle any type of used cooking oil. Though DAR PRO only services commercial kitchens, here are a few options for you to recycle used cooking oil from your home kitchen.

How do I store used cooking oil?

Selecting a used cooking oil container is contingent upon a variety of factors, most of which are related to the dimensions of your kitchen. Space is often at a premium in a crowded commercial kitchen setting and ceiling-height restrictions can also limit your options. If you elect to use an indoor storage container, it should fit seamlessly within your kitchen footprint. If space is drastically limited, an outdoor storage bin may be the best route to go. Your local service provider should conduct a site survey and help determine what type of container is right for your business.

How do I know when my cooking oil has expired?

There are a number of different signs to look for to determine whether your used cooking oil is spent, such as the taste, smell and color of your food. Learn more here about how to tell when your used oil is expired and why you should never extend it beyond its natural life.

Why shouldn’t I put cooking oil in the trash?

The simplest answer is that it is bad for the environment. Used cooking oil isn’t meant to be put into the garbage, and if it ends up in a landfill it can become harmful to the environment. It will also form a rancid smell and can cause serious plumbing issues if it is discarded down the drain. Cooking grease can be reused and repurposed in a number of different ways. Throwing it away is never a good option.

Who will pick up my grease and cooking oil?

Our service technicians will arrive in DAR PRO Solutions branded trucks with our logo on their uniforms. If you ever see someone pumping your grease bin and they are not readily identifiable as DAR PRO Solutions (or Darling Ingredients, our parent company), they are likely stealing your grease.

My business is growing. What if I need my UCO picked up more often?

Our automated pickup schedule is tied to a store’s average volume of used cooking oil produced, which ensures your tank doesn’t overflow and our trucks are efficiently routed. If your used cooking oil volume has changed (increase or decrease) since you signed on as a customer, call our Customer Engagement Center, 855-DAR-PRO1 (877-536-1280).

Why does used cooking oil have value?

Used cooking oil, once properly processed, is a valuable commodity used in a number of consumer products. This used cooking oil can be processed and repurposed into biofuel, animal feed ingredients, as well as several common household or commercial products such as paints, solvents, cleansers, lotions, plastics, tires and more. As the demand for yellow grease (processed UCO) grows, so does its inherent value.

How much will I get for my used cooking oil?

Yellow grease (processed used cooking oil) is a commodity tracked by sources like The Jacobson, Urner Barry, Informa and others, which monitor the market values of various agricultural commodities such as corn, soybeans and more. Yellow grease’s value is driven by demand, which is largely determined by biofuel and animal feed demand. Yellow grease is an economical substitute for corn in animal feed and used as an alternate feedstock to virgin oils for biofuel production.

We rebate based on the market value, volume and quality of the oil.​

  • Has it been kept free of contamination (trash, rainwater, food debris)?​

  • Is it secure from theft? (We can’t rebate for what we don’t pick up.)​

A switch to automated tanks has proven to be the best way for customers to protect the value of their oil and maximize their rebate potential.​

Why are my rebate checks smaller, or why am I no longer getting one?

If you are still using the same amount of fresh oil and your cooking and oil storage methods have not changed, but you are seeing smaller (or no) rebate checks, it could be one of two things. Yellow grease markets may have dropped, and we have had to adjust our rebates accordingly, or, someone is likely stealing your grease. We pay rebates based on the amount of oil we pick up. If it has been stolen, there is less (or none) for us to pump. To determine if it is theft, let our Customer Engagement Center (855-DAR-PRO1) know of your suspicion, and if possible, install an outside security camera on your grease corral to monitor illicit activity. If you do confirm theft, call your local police to report the crime, and let us know.

​Do thieves really steal restaurant grease?

Yes, they really do. Because of the increase in demand for biofuel, due in large part to government mandates, the value for the feedstock that is used to produce the biofuel has increased proportionately. Grease thieves have discovered a grease bin in the back of a restaurant parking lot is often an easy and open target. They then sell the used grease to a biofuel producer who doesn’t ask sourcing questions, robbing the restaurant of any rebate they may be entitled to. Because these are criminals, such theft can also be a danger to both employees and customers. If theft is observed, call the local police first to report the crime, then call us. Getting a photo or license tag number would be helpful in prosecuting the theft, but only if it is safe to do so.

How do I keep my UCO secure from theft or contamination?

With our fully enclosed automated tanks, stores can protect their grease from theft. To pump the oil from the storage tank during a service pickup, DAR PRO Solutions uses a proprietary external valve that will connect only to DAR PRO service vehicles, preventing the illegal theft of a store’s used grease.

Do you sell fresh virgin cooking oil?

No. We have found that our customers can often find better prices on virgin oil by shopping suppliers, retaining the ability to buy at lower market prices versus being locked into a purchase contract. DAR PRO’s focus is on what we do best – we offer the industry’s best in used oil collection tanks, dependable service, a nationwide infrastructure and a skilled service team to ensure our customers are satisfied and we are consistently meeting their needs.

How can homeowners dispose of their kitchen grease?

NEVER pour used grease down your kitchen drain unless you want to personally support the local plumbers. If the used grease is strained and stored in a cool place, it can safely be reused a few times. Once the oil is spent, contact your local municipality. Many offer used cooking oil drop-off points, particularly during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. If no drop-off is available, put the used oil in a disposable container and discard it in your trash.

How can you recycle used cooking oil at home?

We are limited on what we can do with our used grease at home. Virtually the only 'recycling' available to us is to save the used grease in a clean can, in a cool place, for later re-use when frying potatoes or meats. If stored properly, the grease can be re-used a few times before the nose test says it's time to dispose of it. To properly discard used oil, secure it in a closed container and place it in the trash. For larger amounts, like a fried Thanksgiving turkey, contact your local municipality or fire department. They often have grease days for residents to turn in their used grease for recycling. If you have a compost pile, you can add small amounts of grease at a time. Too much could be a problem. See our next answer below.

Can I put used cooking oil in my compost pile?

Avoid adding used cooking oil to your compost pile. Small amounts may not be problematic, but too much can emit an unpleasant odor attracting rodents and animals and can encourage pathogens. Too much grease can also slow down or even halt the compost action.

Will you pick up my turkey grease?

We are not able to collect used cooking oil from homes. To adhere to sourcing and tracking requirements of the materials we use in the fats, oils, proteins and greases we produce, our company can only collect from contracted customers. Check with your local municipality or local fire department. During the holidays, there are often special drop-off spots for the grease that deep fried that yummy turkey on your Thanksgiving table.

Do you recycle motor oil?

No, we only recycle used cooking oil from businesses, industrial, institutional and commercial establishments. If you have motor oil to discard, contact your city or local automotive retailer and ask if they have drop-off locations. Many cities offer periodic hazardous waste collection days. Store your old motor oil safely and drop it off at those events. Motor oil contains chemicals that could be dangerous to groundwater, vegetation, or water supplies, so should never be poured onto the ground or down a drain.


DAR PRO is better more equipped to collect and recycle your used cooking oil than any other provider. We own and control the process from start to finish and ensure you receive quality service while quantifying the impact your business makes. Call us 24/7/365 at 855-327-7761.