Home / Contact Us / About Us / Our Services / North Yorkshire / East Riding Yorkshire / South Yorkshire / West Yorkshire / Greater Manchester / Derbyshire / Reference / FAQ
Used Cooking Oil Disposal and Recycling
Used Cooking Oil Disposal and Recycling in commercial kitchens must be done responsibly such as restaurants, takeaways, and food businesses. However, what many people don’t realise is that improper disposal can lead to serious problems not just for your premises, but also for the environment. Pouring cooking oil down the drain may seem convenient, but it’s a costly mistake that causes blockages, damages drainage systems, and pollutes rivers and waterways.
Why You Should Never Pour Cooking Oil Down the Drain
Fats, oils, and grease commonly referred to as FOG may be liquid when hot, but as they cool, they solidify. Once in the drainage system, they cling to the inside of pipes and accumulate over time. This creates fatbergs, which lead to slow drains, foul smells, and even total pipe blockages that can result in costly repairs.
More alarmingly, when oil escapes into waterways, it can coat fish gills, reduce oxygen levels in the water, and impact aquatic ecosystems. Local water authorities across the UK report thousands of drainage incidents every year that are directly related to oil and grease being dumped into sinks and drains.
Legal and Environmental Responsibility
All food establishments in the UK have a legal responsibility to dispose of waste cooking oil correctly. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste oils are classified as controlled waste. This means they must be stored, handled, and transported by licensed waste carriers in accordance with strict regulations. Failure to comply can lead to enforcement notices, fines, or even business closure.
Using a compliant service not only ensures you're following the law but also helps protect the environment. Recycled waste oil can be turned into biofuel, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supporting the circular economy.
What Waste Vegetable Oils Can Do for You
We provide a professional, friendly, and reliable cooking oil collection service across Leeds and surrounding areas. Whether you run a restaurant, pub, school, care home, or takeaway, we make it easy for you to dispose of your used oil responsibly.
Here’s how our service works:
- We provide you with a clean, secure oil barrel at no cost.
- You fill it with your used cooking oil and fats over time.
- Once full, we collect the barrel at a time that suits you.
- We replace it with a clean, empty one on each visit.
- We issue all the legal documentation and waste transfer notes (WTNs).
Our service is fully licensed and Environment Agency compliant. We prioritise hygiene, safety, and efficiency, ensuring that your premises stay clean and compliant with environmental regulations.
Benefits of Choosing Waste Vegetable Oils
There are multiple reasons why more food businesses are turning to us for their waste oil collection needs:
- Free oil barrel provision and collection service
- Environment Agency licensed and fully insured
- Flexible collection schedules to suit your operation
- Professional documentation and compliance guaranteed
- Oil recycled into sustainable fuel, reducing your carbon footprint
- Local service supporting the Yorkshire area
We Cover Leeds and Surrounding Areas
If you’re based in Leeds or nearby, we’re here to help. Our service area includes:
- Leeds
- Wakefield
- Bradford
- Huddersfield
- Halifax
- Keighley
- Pontefract
- Batley
- Castleford
- Ossett
If you're outside these areas, we may still be able to help just get in touch to find out more.
What Happens to Your Used Cooking Oil?
Once collected, your used cooking oil is transported to a licensed processing facility. There, it undergoes treatment to remove impurities and convert it into biofuel such as biodiesel or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This eco-friendly process reduces waste and lowers the environmental impact compared to fossil fuel alternatives.
By choosing to recycle your oil, you're helping to lower greenhouse gas emissions, protect UK waterways, and contribute to cleaner air and water in your local area.
How to Get Started
Getting started with Waste Vegetable Oils is quick and hassle-free. Simply contact us via phone, email, or our website form. We'll arrange a convenient time to deliver your free collection barrel. From that point on, you can focus on running your kitchen, while we handle your oil waste responsibly.
Whether you produce a few litres per week or hundreds, we tailor our collections to your needs. There are no hidden charges, no contracts, and no fuss just a reliable service you can trust.
Contact Waste Vegetable Oils Today
If you're still pouring cooking oil down the drain, it's time to stop. Let us help you make the switch to a cleaner, greener, and legally compliant solution.
Together, we can protect our drains, our rivers, and our future.