July and August see the highest peak in demand in the HORECA sector (hotels, restaurants, cafés and beach bars). With ‘fully booked’ signs and tables that are impossible to get without a reservation, professionals in the hospitality, catering and accommodation sectors are not only faced with a frenetic and intense workload. As demand and consumption multiply, so does waste – and this can be a major problem for these businesses.
Kitchens run non-stop, deep fryers operate at full capacity and, as a result, a by-product is generated in massive volumes: Used Cooking Oil (UCO).
Have you ever wondered what happens to those thousands of litres of waste oil once the day’s service is over? In summer, particularly along the Andalusian coast and the Spanish Levante, the proper management of this waste is not only a legal obligation but also a fundamental pillar for protecting the environment which, paradoxically, attracts those very same tourists.
If litres of used cooking oil are not managed efficiently and professionally, problems pile up in these establishments just as quickly as the dirty dishes. For a restaurant owner, for example, storing drums of used oil in areas with high temperatures is a problem in terms of hygiene, space and safety. Furthermore, bearing in mind that a single litre of used oil can contaminate up to 1,000 litres of water, we would also be facing a potential environmental problem. Improper disposal down drains in coastal areas poses a direct threat to our marine ecosystems and the quality of our beaches. Furthermore, solidified oil blocks pipes and municipal sewerage networks, causing blockages, foul odours and creating an ideal breeding ground for urban pests.
With the help of companies specialising in collection and marketing, we can turn a seasonal problem into a source of high-quality raw material. At Ibero Waste Trading, we not only manage the buying and selling of used cooking oil, but we also play an active role in the circular economy by preventing the waste generated from polluting the environment.
