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Used Cooking Oil Disposal

Residential and Commercial Grease Collection Program Has Ended

SFGreasecycle was developed in 2007 with the intention of diverting Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) from our sewer infrastructure and helping residents and restaurants with a simple and cost-effective way to dispose of their used cooking oil. The private sector has matured and is now servicing San Francisco restaurants. With the closing of the commercial program of SFGreasecycle, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has decided to also end the residential program. We are now focusing on educating San Francisco residents on how to properly collect and dispose of their used cooking oil.

fry oil in heating in a pan
Used cooking oil doesn’t belong down the drain and there are many options you can take to properly dispose of used cooking oil.

What Should I Do With My Used Cooking Oil?

  • Compost it. For small amounts of oil, soak it up with paper towels and place in green compost bin.
  • Use it again. Cool down the used oil in your pan, strain out the food scraps for composting, and pour the oil into a clean container to use again 
  • Take it to Recology's Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
    • Only used cooking oil from home use is accepted – not from businesses.
    • Proof of San Francisco residency is required.
    • Only 10 gallons per trip allowed.
    • The facility is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm and located at 501 Tunnel Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134. It is recommended to call ahead to confirm if they can accept your used cooking oil at (415) 330-1400.
    • Visit Recology's webpage for more information.

What can commercial businesses and restaurants do with their waste grease?

Contact a local grease hauler who provides free cooking oil pick up services in San Francisco. Please contact the businesses directly for more information.

What can food trucks do with their greywater and waste grease?

Food truck greywater and fats, oil, and grease (FOG) must not enter storm drains and catch basins. Greywater is the gently used water from your activities that may contain traces of dirt, food, used cooking oil, etc. Improperly disposing of greywater down storm drains or catch basins can wash away treatment the City uses to prevent mosquito growth, decreasing the effectiveness of mosquito population control. FOG can also lead to clogged sewer pipes and overflows on the streets.

  • Do not dump anything, including greywater, grease, ice, food and trash, onto City streets or drains. Always take your wastes back to your permitted commissary for legal disposal. 
  • Make sure the tanks installed in your vehicle are large enough to properly catch and store your greywater until it can be discharged. 
  • Consider contacting a cooking oil recycler who can pick up your used FOG and recycle it into biofuel. 
  • Conduct periodic checks for leaks in your tanks. 
  • Spread the word about these pollution prevention tips to other food trucks in the community.

Need More Information?
Contact our team at (415) 695-7310.