Grease Connections has served Plant City kitchens—farm-to-table diners, State Fair food vendors, Latin bakeries, and truck-stop grills—since 2014, turning fryer oil into clean-burning biodiesel while helping restaurants avoid costly grease violations. Our local drivers, weatherproof bins, and Hillsborough-compliant service logs keep traffic moving on Park Rd., Alexander St., and Reynolds St.
Opening Story: Pre-Dawn on Reynolds Street
At 5:49 a.m., behind Maryland Fried Chicken, kitchen supervisor Raul Jiménez checked the bin sensor—96% full. It was peak strawberry shipment week, and produce trucks would block access by 7 a.m. Raul remembered missing a pickup in 2021 during Strawberry Festival week—it caused a $480 fine and 90-minute kitchen delay.
Our truck arrived early, staged on Wheeler Street, swapped the bin in under 7 minutes, and left before school traffic reached Tomlin Middle School. Raul’s team gained 22 minutes of prep time and earned $182 in Q2 rebates.
Plant City’s Unique Kitchen Challenges
- Fairground congestion — Traffic near the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds surges every March. Missed pickups create major backlogs.
- Flood-prone lots — Summer rains flood alleyways off Reynolds St. and MLK Blvd., risking $700+ spill citations.
- Tight old-town spaces — Kitchens near Collins St. and Evers St. are limited to 8–10 ft of rear access.
- Bilingual staff — Crews speak English and Spanish; decals help train seasonal employees fast.
Why Plant City Kitchens Choose Us (99.3% on-time pickups last year)
- Pre-7 a.m. routes — Done before schools and produce trucks hit the roads.
- Spill-resistant bins — Gasketed, pest-proof, and sealed.
- Digital compliance — Instantly logged with Hillsborough Public Works.
- Quarterly rebates — Earn $0.40–$0.50 per gallon.
- Extra pickups — Added during peak ag events or church fundraisers.
How It Works
- Schedule — We’ll visit your kitchen, inspect your bin location, and send a custom quote—often the same day.
- Swap & Scan — Our technician delivers a clean bin, installs a smart QR tag, and shows your staff how to use it—all in 10 minutes.
- Collect & Rebate — We service your bin on a fixed schedule, email a digital manifest, and deposit rebates 15 days after each quarter.
How We Recycle
Your oil travels 38 miles to our BQ-9000–certified processing center. We convert it to clean-burning biodiesel that fuels Hillsborough County school buses and backup systems at South Florida Baptist Hospital.
The 4-Step Process
- Collect — Our sealed 140-gallon bins are picked up by GPS-tracked trucks rated for residential zones and narrow downtown alleys.
- Filter & Clean — Used cooking oil passes through a three-phase centrifuge that filters down to 5 microns, removing 99.8% of solids.
- Refine — We convert oil via low-emission, CO₂-monitored reactors, yielding ASTM D6751 biodiesel and reusable glycerin.
- Fuel Up — The result powers regional buses and hospital generators, reducing 210 tons of carbon annually across East Hillsborough.
Service Snapshot — Plant City Routes
| Route | ZIPs | Days | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Loop | 33563 | Mon & Wed | 4:30–6:30 a.m. |
| Alexander Spur | 33566 | Tue & Thu | 5:00–7:15 a.m. |
| Fairgrounds Flex | 33567 | Sat + On-Demand | 5:00–7:30 a.m. |
Bin Options for Plant City Kitchens
| Size | Best For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | Older strip mall cafés | Strawberry Hut |
| 140 gal | Church halls + bakeries | Cafe Havana on Collins St. |
| 240 gal | Fairgrounds vendors | Sweet Corn Truck – State Fair |
Pricing & Rebates
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bin rental | FREE |
| Pickup | FREE |
| Smart sensor (optional) | $15 / month |
| Rebate | $0.40–$0.50 / gal |
Emergency Pickup — 4 hrs, $95 flat (Plant City to Thonotosassa)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will your truck block our delivery access?
Never. Routes finish before produce or school traffic starts.
What if the bin leaks or overflows?
We clean it, document the area, and credit your account. Our No-Mess Guarantee covers fines.
When are rebates paid?
15 days after quarter close. Statements and ACH sent automatically.
Do you support Spanish-speaking kitchens?
Yes. Drivers and decals are bilingual—no onboarding issues.
Do I qualify if I use less than 25 gal?
Yes—there’s no minimum volume, no extra cost, and you still earn rebates.
Success Stories
“They beat produce trucks every day of the Strawberry Festival.”
—Raul J., Maryland Fried Chicken
“We’re a tiny diner but still get rebates. We got $174 last quarter.”
—Maria C., Strawberry Hut
“No fines since we switched. And they always text when it’s done.”
—Javier B., Cafe Havana
Certifications & Local Compliance
| Cert | Meaning | Local Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| BQ-9000 | Clean fuel meets ASTM specs | Valid for Hillsborough biofuel program |
| SmartWay | Diesel emissions reduced | Part of Hillsborough Clean Air Plan |
| OSHA 1910.106 | Compliant handling | Helps older downtown kitchens get insured |
Service Guarantees
- Fair Access Guarantee – During Festival Week, if we miss a swap due to traffic, your sensor fee is waived. (Used 3× in 2023.)
- Flood-Ready Credit – If summer rains dilute your oil weight, we apply a rebate bonus. (4 claims filed in 2024.)
- Event Vendor Assurance – We complete all fairground vendor pickups before 9 a.m. (100% record 2022–2024.)
Ready to Get Started?
Call or text (305) 204-5207 to schedule a free bin drop and same-day quote. Or click “Start Recycling” to begin earning rebates.
A Cleaner Plant City
In 2024, we diverted 78,200 gallons of waste oil from storm drains feeding the Alafia River and Lake Thonotosassa—equal to removing 208 cars from SR-39 traffic. Our program helped reduce grease blockages by 24% and earned mention in the 2023 Hillsborough Clean Drainage report.
Grease runoff from rural kitchens can affect irrigation canals and storm ditches that supply nearby farms, harming both crop health and irrigation system efficiency. By keeping FOG (fats, oils, and grease) out of the system, we help protect both water quality and the surrounding agricultural soil. Our process helps meet EPC Ordinance 22-110 for food-service wastewater compliance.