Penalties vary by jurisdiction, but most California counties impose fines starting at $1,000 per violation for improper grease storage or disposal. In Los Angeles County, the FOG program administered through Clean LA cleanla.lacounty.gov/fog/ enforces grease interceptor requirements, and violations can escalate to $10,000 or more for repeat offenders. Orange County restaurants under OC San jurisdiction face additional permitting requirements through the Fats, Oil, and Grease permit program ocsan.gov/ocsan-permits/businessfog/. California Health and Safety Code Section 114201 leginfo.legislature.ca.gov mandates that all food facilities maintain properly functioning grease traps, failure to comply is a citable offense during any routine health inspection.

Used cooking oil and grease residue are primary attractants for rats, cockroaches, and flies. When a grease container overflows or is not sealed properly, it creates a food source that draws pests to your back-of-house area. A consistent pickup schedule keeps containers at manageable levels and eliminates standing grease that attracts vermin. We also clean the container area on every visit, removing residue and drips that would otherwise accumulate. The California Department of Food and Agriculture oversees inedible kitchen grease handling through the IKG Program cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/MPES/Rendering/, which includes requirements for secure container storage specifically to prevent pest access and grease theft.

No. A grease trap captures incidental grease from dishwashing and sink drainage, but it is not designed to process bulk used cooking oil from fryers. Pouring fryer oil into a drain, even one connected to a grease interceptor, overwhelms the trap, causes backups, and sends fats, oils, and grease into the municipal sewer system. This violates local FOG ordinances and can result in sewer spills that carry additional environmental penalties. The proper method is to collect used fryer oil in a dedicated container and have it removed by a licensed hauler with CDFA transporter credentials.

Grease spills in back-of-house areas are one of the leading causes of slip-and-fall injuries in restaurants. When a container overflows or leaks, the resulting slick surface puts your staff, delivery drivers, and maintenance contractors at risk. The average slip-and-fall claim in California exceeds $30,000, and claims involving permanent injury can reach six figures. Regular grease pickup prevents overflow conditions, and we clean the container pad on every visit. We also inspect your container and surrounding area for leaks, cracks, or positioning issues that could create hazards between pickups.

The Inedible Kitchen Grease (IKG) program, administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/MPES/Rendering/, regulates the collection, transportation, and processing of used cooking oil and other inedible kitchen grease in California. Under this program, any company that picks up your used cooking oil must hold a valid CDFA transporter license. Every pickup must be documented with a compliant manifest that records volume, date, origin, and destination. As a restaurant, you are not required to hold a license yourself, but you are responsible for ensuring your hauler is properly licensed. Drivers on our routes carry CDFA credentials on every route, and we provide you with documentation confirming our licensing status for your records.

Our restaurant grease pickup service is completely free. Used cooking oil has value as a feedstock for biodiesel production and animal feed, so we collect it at no charge and handle all transportation, documentation, and container equipment. There are no setup fees, no monthly charges, and no contracts. The only cost to your restaurant is the few minutes it takes to pour your cooled fryer oil into the collection container, and even that happens during your existing oil-change routine.