As most restaurant owners know, your cooking oil has value even after you used it all day to fry food. Used Cooking Oil, or UCO, Haulers pick it up for no cost. Some may give you a rebate depending on your market and the Jacobsen Report. However, you need to transport your UCO from inside your facility to your storage unit. How do you transfer your cooking oil and not spill it?
While there are various ways to do so depending on your facility’s needs. The most common ways to transport your UCO are:
Outdoor Storage System
The most common method for storing your used cooking oil is the outdoor storage system. Typically, in this system, a barrel or container is placed outside for your employees to manually carry the oil from the fryer to. There are a handful of drawbacks to this method including:
- Employees splashed with hot oil
- Employees pulling a muscle as they manually carry the UCO to your storage container and pour it.
- Possible environmental impact if the UCO spills
- Thieves stealing the UCO
Indoor Caddy System
If you have limited space but aim to lower the risk of injuries and burns, the Indoor Caddy System may be for you. It is easily stored anywhere in your facility. When ready to use: wheel it to the fryer, connect a hose and drain the oil. Then wheel to the storage container, connect the hose, and drain the oil. The Indoor Caddy System has a long hose, so if your space is limited you can move it out of the way.
Indoor Pump Station
While similar to the Indoor Caddy System, The Indoor Pump Station contains a wand instead of a hose. Install the wand on a wall near the fryer and storage tank. Then siphon the UCO from your fryer into the container.
This system alleviates the need to manually remove the UCO from the fryer lowering the risks of injury. However, it does not remove it, so proper safety gear is recommended.
Direct Pump Station
This method is the easiest and safest option due to it:
- Eliminates manual labor
- Reduces the risk of injury
- Prevents theft
- Increase your facility’s efficiency
Typically installed indoors, but there is an option for outdoor storage as well, the storage container connects directly to the dryer via a pump. With a flip switch, the pump activates.
While these are the most commonly used methods there are still others out there. It’s important to consider all methods while weighing your facility’s needs before selecting one. When in doubt, call SLM at 888.847.4449 or fill our our assessment to consult with our used cooking oil experts as to the best method for your facility.
