Coconut Grove kitchens move with the tide. Brunch lines at CocoWalk start before eight, boats pull up to dockside cafés on South Bayshore Drive by noon, and Commodore Plaza bistros keep the fryers hot until the last jazz set ends. Grease Connections rolls in while the grills cool, lifts every gallon of used cooking oil for free, pays up to $0.50 a gallon, and sends that grease to our recycling plant where it becomes low‑carbon diesel instead of floating in Biscayne Bay.
Why restaurants use Grease Connections
Every pickup stays free, every rebate is set in writing, and we never add hidden fees or lock kitchens into contracts. Last year we made 99.7 percent of Coconut Grove stops on schedule. Our automated routing system tracks traffic on South Dixie Highway and US‑1 in real time and reroutes the truck so the lift still lands when promised.
How we solve issues for restaurants in Coconut Grove
| Grove headache | Our fix | What you gain |
|---|---|---|
| Marina traffic at Dinner Key | Early‑morning route through Pan American Drive | On‑time pickup before boat crews arrive |
| Narrow lanes on Commodore Plaza | Compact 55 and 70‑gallon carts with push handles | No blocked service alley |
| Storm surge on Bayshore Drive | Sealed lids and pumps rated to 140 mph winds | Zero spill fines during hurricane warnings |
| Weekend festival crowds | Extra Saturday tanker loop, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. | No overtime labor for staff |
| Salt spray and humidity | Zinc‑coated wheels and rust‑proof steel bins | Five‑year bin life, no rust cost |
Always free and on time services
| Service | Local detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bin delivery and swap | Stainless containers rated to 140 mph | Free |
| Scheduled collection | Real‑time traffic routing, Mon–Sat | Free |
| Event surge pickup | Extra tankers for Grove Art Festival load‑outs | Free |
| Compliance documents | Every pickup logged in your portal, auto‑filed to Miami‑Dade | Free |
| Staff refresher training | On‑site at CocoWalk and Bayshore Drive | Free |
| Quarterly pressure wash | Citrus wash safe for mangrove runoff | Free |
Used Cooking Oil Collection schedule
| Zone | ZIP | Days | Time window |
|---|---|---|---|
| CocoWalk and Main Highway | 33133 | Mon, Thu | 5 – 7 a.m. |
| South Bayshore Marinas | 33133 | Tue, Fri | 5 – 7 a.m. |
| Commodore Plaza and Grand Avenue | 33133 | Wed | 6 – 8 a.m. |
| Coral Gables border, US‑1 corridor | 33134 | Sat | 6 – 8 a.m. |
| Event surge | 33133 | As needed | 10 p.m. – 3 a.m. |
Need service outside these windows? Check the coverage map or call dispatch to join the nearest run.
Step‑by‑step pickup workflow
A trained technician measures fryer depth and dock clearance, then drops a gasketed bin within 24 hours. The driver pumps through a 75‑foot hose, and the system logs who pulled the oil, the timestamp, and the exact gallons before the truck heads back to our recycling facility. By 5 p.m. a PDF with the county manifest reaches your inbox, and 15 days later the payment lands in Cash App, Zelle, or your bank.
Container menu and specs
| Capacity | Footprint (L × W) | Height | Empty weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 36 × 24 in | 32 in | 60 lb | Food trucks at Peacock Park |
| 70 gal | 42 × 28 in | 38 in | 75 lb | Sidewalk cafés on Commodore Plaza |
| 95 gal steel | 48 × 29 in | 42 in | 96 lb | Brewery kitchens on Grand Avenue |
| 140 gal | 52 × 31 in | 45 in | 120 lb | Marina restaurants on Bayshore Drive |
| 240 gal | 60 × 34 in | 50 in | 160 lb | High‑volume hotel banquets |
| 300 gal | 72 × 40 in | 52 in | 185 lb | Event venues at Regatta Harbour |
All bins arrive with locking lids, anti‑tip frames, and reflective tape for dawn pickups.
How grease turns into clean fuel
Collect — Covered bins keep water and crumbs out, protecting oil purity.
Filter — At the depot, oil passes screens; solids become animal feed.
Convert — Clean oil meets methanol and catalyst; out comes biodiesel and glycerin.
Fuel — Biodiesel blends into B20 marina fuel.
Why rates vary: Higher purity and steady volume earn $0.50. Water or food bits drop the rate to $0.30.
How your restaurant protects Coconut Grove’s environment
Last year Grove kitchens sent 27 400 gallons of used oil to our plant. That fuel powers 40 garbage trucks for a week and keeps 210 metric tons of carbon out of the air—the same lift as removing 70 cars from South Dixie Highway for a year. The biodiesel burns 76 percent cleaner, sparing the energy in 290 000 smartphone charges. Mangrove roots stay oil‑free, and every gallon puts cash back into the kitchen budget.
How we compare
| Feature | Grease Connections | Typical hauler | Self‑dispose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early‑morning pickups | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Weather‑proof lid | ✔ | Sometimes | ✖ |
| Free bin and service | ✔ | Fees vary | Fuel and time cost |
| Rebate paid | ✔ | Low or none | ✖ |
| Digital compliance docs | ✔ | Paper only | — |
How your rebate lands in your account
| Quarterly volume | Rate per gallon | Payout timing | Deposit method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 299 gal | $0.30 | 15 days | ACH / Cash App / Zelle |
| 300 – 599 gal | $0.35 | 15 days | ACH / Cash App / Zelle |
| 600 – 899 gal | $0.40 | 15 days | ACH / Cash App / Zelle |
| 900 gal + | $0.50 | 15 days | ACH / Cash App / Zelle |
The dashboard shows your running total and the exact date the payment will land.
Promises we keep for every kitchen
Pickups stay free for life. Bins land within 48 hours or the first rebate jumps by two cents a gallon. If our driver arrives more than 15 minutes late, the same bonus applies all quarter. If a drop spills, we degrease on our dime. Hand us a written quote from any hauler and we beat it.
Ready to turn grease into steady cash?
Call or text 24/7 at 305‑204‑5207 and mention “Grove” for a free dock survey. Need details first? The service menu lists every perk at zero cost. If a festival rush leaves you short, confirm your address and we often deliver a bin in 12 hours—well before the afternoon storm rolls in.
Stop juggling drums. Let Coconut Grove’s local crew handle the oil, pay you for it, and keep Biscayne Bay blue.