Operating a restaurant in 2019 feels like an entirely different experience when compared to what the job was a mere 20 years ago. The needs and interests of our customers have changed so drastically over such a short time, and the services and tools available to us are fairly foreign as well. Overall, a once-challenging job has become a nightmare; I often find myself asking how I can possibly find the time to handle every aspect of operating my restaurant.
Fortunately, with new challenges come new solutions. Logistical nightmares like payroll and food delivery are much easier with new technology. Even the wait staff at my bistro are primarily relying upon technology like Aloha to put in orders with the kitchen. The one problem I didn't think technology could solve was our filthy kitchen. In particular, as a restaurant that serves a number of fried foods, we were having a large number of problems with overfilled or unsanitary grease traps. Here are three creative solutions to the grease trap dilemma, including my personal favorite!
#1: Re-use it! There are plenty of uses for old cooking oil. It's not uncommon for cooking oil to be re-purposed, even being used to power cars and trucks. If you have a viable use for recycled cooking oil, your grease traps will become a true gold mine!
#2: Sell it! Plenty of consumers have a need for re-purposed oil. By partnering with another local business, you and your restaurant can avoid the hassle of removing the oil while simultaneously making a quick buck in the process.
#3: Dispose of it! In the old days, disposing of cooking oil often meant dumping it down the drain or somewhere else out of sight. In 2019, we know better - cooking oil can clog sewers, taint our water supply, and even seep into agricultural products.
For most restaurant operators, disposal is the most feasible. Finding a partner to purchase cooking oil isn't always a viable option. Re-using the oil yourself is very eco-friendly, but it's very tough to do, especially if your grease produces a very large amount of grease. For restaurants like mine, the optimal solution is finding a service that handles the hassle of removing the grease AND recycles it in the most eco-friendly way possible.