Restaurants produce gallons of used cooking oil every week—but most owners don’t realize that this oil has real value. Instead of treating it as waste, you can sell your used cooking oil (UCO) to a certified recycling company and turn a required disposal task into additional revenue.

This guide explains exactly how restaurants can sell their used cooking oil, what buyers look for, and how recycling your oil with a trusted partner like D&W Alternative Energy keeps your kitchen compliant, safe, and profitable.

Why Restaurants Sell Used Cooking Oil

Used cooking oil is a feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, industrial products, livestock feed, and more. As demand has grown, so has the value of clean, well-stored UCO. Selling it offers several benefits:

• Extra revenue for something you were already discarding
• Cleaner kitchens with less mess and fewer pests
• Regulatory compliance with state and environmental rules
• A greener environmental footprint for your restaurant

How to Sell Used Cooking Oil (Step-by-Step)

1. Locate a Certified Used Cooking Oil Recycling Company

The first step is to choose a reputable buyer. Search for:

• “used cooking oil recycling near me”
• “sell used cooking oil in New Jersey”

Look for companies with reliable service, clear pricing, and proper environmental certifications. D&W Alternative Energy provides full-service UCO recycling for restaurants across New Jersey, including scheduled pickups and emergency service. D&W buys used cooking oil.

2. Understand Quality & Purity Requirements

Recycling companies pay more for clean, uncontaminated oil. To get the best price:

• Remove food scraps using a filter
• Avoid mixing water, grease trap waste, or other liquids
• Store only pure fryer oil in your UCO container

Oil contaminated with water or food solids will reduce per-gallon payments, since it cannot be used for many industrial applications.

3. Store Your Oil Properly

Proper storage is critical to protecting the value of your oil. Restaurants should:

• Use a dedicated outdoor or indoor UCO storage container
• Keep the lid closed to avoid rain, pests, and contamination
• Pour oil only once it has cooled

D&W Alternative Energy provides secure, sealed storage containers at no cost to most customers.

4. Schedule a Pickup or Drop-Off

Once your container fills up, simply call, text, or submit a request online. Most recyclers—including D&W—offer:

• Scheduled pickups (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly)
• On-demand pickups for high-volume locations
• Emergency service if your container fills unexpectedly

During pickup, the driver will record the exact gallons collected and that total becomes your payment basis.

5. Get Paid Promptly

The recycler will:

• Verify the oil’s purity
• Weigh and record the volume
• Issue prompt payment (check, ACH, or digital payment options may be available)

D&W Alternative Energy prides itself on transparent reporting and reliable payments.

What Buyers Look For

High-Quality, Clean Oil

The cleaner the oil, the more valuable it is. Key factors include:

• Low moisture
• Low free fatty acids (FFAs)
• Minimal food particles or contaminants

Consistent Supply

Restaurants that produce steady quantities of oil receive better service schedules and can negotiate better pricing.

Higher Volume

Larger volumes often bring better pricing tiers. High-fry restaurants (diners, fast casual, chicken wings, donuts) can earn substantial monthly revenue.

Environmental Compliance

Proper UCO disposal is required under New Jersey waste management rules. Working with a certified recycler ensures you stay compliant and avoid fines.

Why New Jersey Restaurants Choose D&W Alternative Energy

D&W Alternative Energy is a long-standing, local New Jersey–based used cooking oil recycler known for:

• Fast, reliable pickups
• Clean, secure storage containers
• Competitive pricing
• Environmentally responsible processing
• Friendly, professional service

We partner with restaurants of all sizes—from small diners to national chains—helping them turn their used cooking oil into predictable monthly revenue.

Ready to Sell Your Used Cooking Oil?

If you’re a New Jersey restaurant, catering kitchen, food truck, or food manufacturer, D&W Alternative Energy can help you get started today.

Contact us for a free oil-value estimate or to schedule your first pickup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Used Cooking Oil

1. How do I sell my restaurant’s used cooking oil?

You can sell used cooking oil by partnering with a certified recycling company such as D&W Alternative Energy. We provide a secure storage container, schedule regular pickups, verify the oil’s purity, and pay you based on the number of gallons collected. Most restaurants can start within 24–48 hours.

2. How much money can my restaurant earn from used cooking oil?

Earnings depend on the volume, purity, and market price of used cooking oil. Clean, uncontaminated fryer oil receives the highest rate. Restaurants that fry frequently—like diners, pizzerias, chicken spots, and fast-casual kitchens—typically earn the most.

3. What type of used oil do buyers accept?

Buyers accept pure used cooking oil, especially fryer oil from vegetable or blend sources. Oil must be free of:

• Water
• Food scraps
• Grease trap waste
• Cleaning chemicals

Contaminated oil lowers the price or may be rejected entirely.

4. Do I need a special container to store used cooking oil?

Yes. D&W Alternative Energy provides secure, sealed storage containers at no cost for most restaurants. Using the correct container keeps your oil clean, prevents pests, and protects the value of your oil.

5. How often will you pick up the oil?

Pickup frequency depends on your volume. Most restaurants receive weekly, biweekly, or monthly pickups. High-volume kitchens can request more frequent or on-demand service.

6. How do you measure how much oil I’ve produced?

During each pickup, our driver measures the oil using calibrated equipment. The total gallons collected appear on your receipt, and payments are issued based on that number.

7. Is it legal to sell used cooking oil in New Jersey?

Yes. In fact, New Jersey restaurants are required to dispose of used cooking oil responsibly. Selling it to a certified recycler like D&W Alternative Energy keeps your kitchen compliant with state and environmental regulations.

8. Can I switch from my current oil recycling company?

Absolutely. Restaurants switch providers all the time due to poor service, unreliable pickups, unclear payments, or theft concerns. We make the transition simple and handle removal of old containers when needed.

9. What happens to the oil after you collect it?

Your used cooking oil is processed for use in biodiesel, renewable diesel, industrial lubricants, animal feed, and other sustainable products. Recycling your oil supports cleaner energy and reduces waste going to landfills.

10. How do I get started with D&W Alternative Energy?

It’s easy—just contact us for a quick oil value estimate or a pickup schedule. We’ll deliver your storage container, set your pickup frequency, and you’ll start earning from your oil immediately.

Derrick Servon is a founder and co-owner of D&W Alternative Energy, a used cooking oil recycling and grease trap maintenance company serving NJ, PA and DE. He studied business management at Rider University and has developed and trained D&W's fleet of employees.