Recycled cooking oil covers a wide range of different cooking oil types, from vegetable and sunflower to rapeseed and canola, no one type of cooking oil cannot be recycled. In this article, we’ll be discussing what recycled cooking oil is, what it’s used for and why we should be doing it more often to protect the planet. Here’s everything you need to know about recycled and waste cooking oil:
What is recycled cooking oil?
Recycled cooking oil is exactly what it says on the tin, so to speak. It is used cooking oil that no one wants that has been, or will be, recycled. The practice of recycling cooking oil allows for waste cooking oil to have a new lease of life. As well as making new products that can be used in gardens or as a useful resource in and around the home, recycled cooking oil can also be used to make biodiesel.
Biodiesel is a far more eco-friendly alternative to powering vehicles and generators, for example. It helps to keep waste products out of the environment and away from the wildlife and people, whilst creating something worthwhile simultaneously. So how else can recycled cooking oil be used, either commercially or domestically? Let’s take a closer look.
What is recycled cooking oil used for?
Used cooking oil can be used for a variety of different purposes, whether it be domestic or commercial. While you might think that waste cooking oil can only really be recycled commercially, there are some domestic uses for used cooking oil. From composting to cleaning products, here’s everything that recycled cooking oil is used for:
Biofuel
The best way to repurpose your used cooking oil is to send it off to be transformed into biodiesel. This is something that Cater Oils can do for you. We take pride in using our waste cooking oil to create biodiesel which is then used throughout the community for various purposes.
Whether it’s used to power vehicles or generators, there will be a use for biodiesel that has been carefully created from waste cooking oil. Where Cater Oils do not actually produce biodiesel, we send our used cooking oil supplies to a plant nearby, keeping our carbon footprint low, and that of our customers and clients. Find out more about how biodiesel is created here.
Animal feed
Where you can use waste cooking oil in animal feed, not every type of cooking oil is suitable, which is a common misconception. For example, cooking oil from commercial catering companies cannot be used as animal feed. The only oil that can be used in animal feed is that which is derived from food manufacturing facilities or from cooking oil that hasn’t actually been used. This is to safeguard the animals’ health, therefore preventing illness and diseases.
Shampoo, soap & conditioner
This may be surprising, but waste cooking oil can be used to wash and condition hair and for cleaning the body. Cooking oil in this sense, is a very useful ingredient. It has properties within it that keeps the skin soft and smooth. You may find that homemade bars of soap contain oil of some kind, for this very purpose. This is why it’s highly-effective as a conditioner for the hair. For sleek and shiny locks, use cooking oil as an ingredient in homemade shampoos and conditioners.
Cleaning materials
It might seem surprising, but waste cooking oil can be used as a cleaning product. If you want to use it as such, there’s a method to it. Pour your waste cooking oil onto a cloth and use it to remove dirt and debris from the exterior of your car. You can also use waste cooking oil on items and areas inside your home.
Take any used cooking oil you have and use it to buff leather furniture and to polish your pots and pans. In addition, waste cooking oil can be used as a lubricant for squeaky doors, for example. There’s so much that can be done with small quantities of waste cooking in and around your home.
Composting
In some cases, you can use waste cooking oil for composting. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that not every type of cooking oil is suitable for this purpose. If you’re looking to compost your cooking oil, it needs to be organic vegetable oil.
In addition, you cannot compost copious amounts of organic vegetable oil, either. Only small quantities can be composted at any one time. Not only will lots of waste cooking oil cause an unpleasant odour, but you could also risk attracting pests and rodents.
Why should we recycle cooking oil?
Recycling cooking oil is an essential part of any household recycling we do. While you might think it challenging, there are actually multiple ways in which we can dispose of waste cooking oil. Better still, it doesn’t involve pouring it down the sink or putting it in the toilet. In fact, those are one of the worst, most damaging ways in which to dispose of used cooking oil. As such, recycling it is a far better choice. You can look to companies like us, here at Cater Oils, to recycle your used cooking oil. But why should we be recycling it rather than putting it in the bin to be sent to landfill?
Reasons to recycle cooking oil
The reasons why we should be looking to recycle as much cooking oil as possible are as follows:
- They help to preserve facilities and appliances – you won’t be experiencing costly or irreparable damage to drainage systems or sewers. This is because you aren’t putting it down the sink or in the toilet
- You’re protecting global and local environments – by recycling used cooking oil, you’re making sure that unnecessary waste products aren’t being tossed into the environment. This could damage wildlife and habitats
- It reduces health risks – if disposed of improperly, they can cause problems for the health of wildlife and humans, especially if the oil has been left to sit for a while. The risks are increased when you’re looking at waste animals fats and general food grease
Cater Oils is able to provide waste cooking oil collection services to restaurants and other establishments. In exchange, we will offer you either a cash payment or credit towards a new supply of cooking oil. We can also supply fresh cooking oil to those looking for new stock. If you would like further information about our waste cooking oil collection services, or if you’d like to learn more about the wealth of fresh cooking oils supplies on offer, get in touch with a member of our friendly, professional team – we’re always pleased to hear from you.
