Sustainable Recycling

UCO Recycling That Turns
Waste Into Value

Grand Natural collects used cooking oil from restaurants and recycles it into biodiesel. The service is free, the pickup is scheduled around your kitchen, and the environmental impact is real.

What Is UCO Recycling?

UCO stands for Used Cooking Oil — the fats, oils, and greases produced by frying and cooking in commercial kitchens. After collection, Grand Natural processes this oil into biodiesel, a renewable fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum diesel.

Restaurants that participate in UCO recycling programs eliminate a waste stream, meet environmental compliance requirements, and — in many cases — earn cash rebates on the oil they generate. It's one of the few waste services that can actually pay you.

  • Free UCO pickup for qualifying restaurants
  • Containers supplied at no cost — 35 or 55 gallon
  • Oil converted to ASTM-compliant biodiesel
  • Environmental compliance certificates available
  • Coverage across 49 states and 183+ counties
  • High-volume accounts earn cash rebates

California AB 1826 Compliance

California law requires businesses generating more than 4 cubic yards of organic waste per week — including cooking grease — to have a recycling program in place. Grand Natural's UCO service satisfies this requirement.

From Fryer to Fuel

The used cooking oil collected from your restaurant can power delivery trucks, buses, and generators. One gallon of UCO produces roughly one gallon of biodiesel. Your waste becomes someone else's fuel.

The UCO Recycling Process

After collection from your restaurant, used cooking oil goes through a multi-step refinement process:

  1. Collection — our driver removes the full container and leaves a clean one
  2. Transport — oil is taken to a certified processing facility
  3. Filtration — water, food particles, and contaminants are removed
  4. Transesterification — the oil is converted into fatty acid methyl esters (biodiesel)
  5. Quality testing — final product tested against ASTM D6751 standards
  6. Distribution — biodiesel is sold to fuel distributors and fleet operators

Environmental and Compliance Benefits

Used cooking oil that enters the sewer system causes fatbergs, blockages, and costly municipal repairs — and results in fines for the originating restaurant. Proper UCO recycling keeps grease out of the sewer and out of the landfill.

Many municipalities and states have formal UCO recycling requirements for food service businesses. Grand Natural provides service documentation after every pickup so you have a paper trail for inspections and environmental reporting.

UCO Recycling FAQ

What does UCO stand for?
UCO stands for Used Cooking Oil. It refers to the fats, oils, and greases collected from commercial kitchen fryers and cooking equipment after use.
How is UCO turned into biodiesel?
Used cooking oil goes through a chemical process called transesterification, where the oil reacts with an alcohol to produce fatty acid methyl esters — the chemical name for biodiesel. The process removes glycerin and leaves a clean-burning fuel.
Does my restaurant qualify for the free UCO pickup?
Most restaurants qualify. Eligibility is based on output volume and location. Contact Grand Natural at (855) 519-5550 to confirm service availability in your area.
Can I mix different types of cooking oil in the container?
Yes. We accept all common cooking oils — canola, vegetable, soybean, palm, and animal fats. Avoid mixing water or non-oil substances into the container.
How does UCO recycling help the environment?
Biodiesel made from UCO produces up to 86% fewer lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum diesel. It also prevents grease from entering sewers, which reduces infrastructure damage and water pollution.

Request Service Today

Fill out the form and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Your Grease.
Our Fuel.

Turn your kitchen's waste oil into biodiesel. Free pickup. Rebates for high-volume accounts.

(855) 519-5550