Table of Contents
At a Glance: Your Six Must Have Papers
Florida classifies used cooking oil as a regulated recyclable; restaurants must document every gallon from fryer to biodiesel plant. Keep a service manifest, Grease Discharge Operating Permit (GDO), SPCC plan, NPDES “no exposure” letter, 24 month spill log, and annual staff training roster. Missing any one can trigger penalties up to $10,000 per day under Florida Statute 376. Grease Connections auto generates each form after every pickup, so a beach inspector can trace your oil in 30 seconds or less.
| Document | Issued by | Show on Request for | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service manifest | Licensed used oil collection company | County FOG inspector | 3 years |
| GDO / local FOG permit | County environmental agency | Health & plumbing review | Active + 3 yrs |
| SPCC plan (>1,320 gal) | Self certified or PE | EPA/FDEP | Until facility closed |
| NPDES “no exposure” form | FDEP | Stormwater audits | 5 yrs |
| Spill/cleanup log | Facility | Any spill event | 5 yrs |
| Training roster | Facility | OSHA/Health | 3 yrs |
Why Coastal Resorts Face Extra Scrutiny
A spill on an inland strip mall hits pavement; a spill on beachfront tile can hit sea grass in minutes. Florida’s Pollutant Discharge Prevention and Control Act extends to “adjoining shorelines,” forcing resorts within 1,000 feet of protected waters to prove secondary containment and emergency response. Local wildlife planners add species specific response rules for turtles and seabirds. That means inspectors will ask not just “Did you recycle?” but “Show me your tide rise spill map.” Grease Connections pre loads coastal maps into every client’s SPCC binder, cutting prep time from days to hours.
Statewide Rules You Have to Quote
Florida Admin Code 62 710 labels fryer oil “used oil,” requiring labeled containers, intact lids and leak free pads. DEP’s Stormwater program then layers NPDES paperwork on kitchens whose drains could reach the surf. If on site storage tops 1,320 gallons or 24 standard 55 gallon drums the federal SPCC rule kicks in, demanding a written plan and monthly inspections. Resorts that stay below those numbers can self certify, but they must document the math. Grease Connections’ smart fill gauges email a running total straight into that log, so the numbers are always at hand.
County Permits You’ll Need on the Beach
Each coastal county layers its own FOG permit on top of state code. Miami Dade’s GDO requires electronic pump out reports after every service; Palm Beach inspects grease interceptors twice a year and levies surcharges for failed samples. Gulf side Pinellas asks resort kitchens to show “proof of recycling” before renewing food licenses. Keep a copy of the permit itself and the electronic receipt email Grease Connections sends after pick up both count as acceptable proof in every Florida county to date.
Crossing the 1,320 Gallon Line: Federal SPCC Made Easy
Once a property stores more than 1,320 gallons of any oil including vegetable the EPA mandates a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure plan. Beachfront resorts often cross that line during high season. Your file must show: tank diagrams, shore distance map, inspection checklist, and PE certification if volume exceeds 10,000 gallons. Grease Connections partners with coastal engineers to stamp plans within 14 days, then schedules the PE’s annual walkthrough alongside your regular oil pickup one truck, one visit, zero hassle.
Recordkeeping That Passes Any Audit
EPA’s used oil FAQ spells it out: manifests, invoices or digital logs are valid but you must keep them three years. Georgia’s EPD and New Jersey’s PVSC echo that timeline for multi state resort brands. Grease Connections stores PDFs in a cloud vault mapped to inspector checklists, with automatic reminders before retention windows close. One coastal hotel group cut retrieval time at audit from four hours to eight minutes saving a Friday night opening banquet.
Spill Response Playbook for Protected Waters
Every GDO or SPCC plan must reference county Emergency Operations and FDEP’s Oil Spill Toolkit. Resorts should stage absorbent booms within 50 feet of any outdoor tank, keep a wildlife contact sheet, and log drills twice a year. During the 2024 Biscayne tarp failure incident, the hotel’s quick log let cleanup crews deploy within 15 minutes and avoid beach closure. Grease Connections now supplies a sealed “Blue Box” kit booms, PPE, species tags that satisfies toolkit checklists out of the gate.
Beyond Florida: Serving Guests from Georgia to Jersey
Interstate resort groups must reconcile Florida’s paperwork with Georgia Rule 391 3 6 .24 and New Jersey municipal FOG ordinances. Grease Connections harmonizes forms so a chef can hand the same binder to an inspector in Miami, Savannah or Atlantic City. A QR code on each manifest opens state specific details, removing guesswork for traveling managers.
Next Steps Your Free Coastal Compliance Check
If you operate on Florida’s coast or manage sister properties in Georgia or New Jersey book a no cost compliance check. We review your current SPCC, GDO and training files, then leave you with an action map and quote in 48 hours. Schedule at our Miami used oil service page or call us.
Grease Connections keeps the paperwork and the water crystal clear.
