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Why ask if your oil really becomes biodiesel?
Your waste oil only cuts emissions if it’s actually refined into fuel. Neste’s renewable diesel lowers greenhouse gases up to 75 percent across its life cycle, while Chevron REG and Restaurant Technologies recycled 314 million lb of oil into biofuel in 2023. If grease heads to animal feed or landfill instead, you lose those savings and any marketing claim could backfire under FTC “Green Guides.” Grease Connections’ sensor tags track every tote so you can show inspectors a cradle to pump report on demand.
Which oil recycling companies actually make biodiesel, not just collect oil
Five U.S. players run plants or joint ventures that turn used cooking oil into fuel: Diamond Green Diesel (Darling & Valero) processes 1.2 billion gallons a year; Chevron REG operates a coast to coast network of biodiesel refineries; Neste upgrades waste oils into drop in renewable diesel at global hubs; SeQuential hauls Northwest grease to its Salem biodiesel plant; Tri State Biodiesel filters New York area oil before final transesterification partners take it to B100. Baker Commodities also refines UCO into bio based diesel feedstock.
| Oil Collection Company | Own/Operate Biodiesel Plant? | Key Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond Green Diesel | Yes | Plant spec lists UCO feedstock |
| Chevron REG | Yes | Circular economy case study |
| Neste | Yes | 100 % waste oil renewable diesel |
| SeQuential | Yes | Salem conversion facility |
| Tri State Biodiesel | Pre treat & sell to plants | Hunts Point rendering details |
How can you tell an oil recycler isn’t greenwashing
Look for ISCC or RFS paperwork. ISCC PLUS certifies waste to fuel traceability worldwide, and its Chain of Custody rule 203 requires matching in and out volumes of used cooking oil. In the U.S., EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard assigns D codes to fuels; biodiesel from UCO gets D4 or D5 credits you can verify in the public EMTS ledger. Grease Connections uploads every load ticket to your portal, complete with ISCC certificate IDs, so auditors trace gallons in seconds.
Where does Grease Connections send your oil after pick up
Our Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey depots dispatch sealed tankers directly to Diamond Green Diesel in Louisiana and Chevron REG’s Midwest plants, both ISCC certified for UCO feedstock. Each shipment carries an RFID stamp that stays with the batch until fuel certification, giving you a verifiable chain of custody. If a load diverts or a manifest goes missing, we pay any resulting spill fine no paperwork, no debate.
What carbon savings can biodiesel deliver to your restaurant fleet
Switching one light duty box truck from diesel to 100 percent renewable diesel avoids about 550 tons of CO₂e over a decade, based on New Jersey Natural Gas fleet data. Multiply that by daily fryer loads: a 100 seat café sends roughly 25 gal of oil weekly. Refining those 25 gal into biodiesel instead of trashing them displaces fossil carbon and meets municipal zero waste goals. Grease Connections’ portal turns those gallons into ready made ESG metrics for your annual report.
What does a “no greenwash” oil recycling contract look like
Insist on three clauses: ISCC or equivalent certification reference, EPA RFS D code disclosure, and a spill fine guarantee. Grease Connections’ standard agreement checks all three and adds 24/7 tank monitoring to stop theft a rising risk as UCO becomes valuable feedstock. One vendor, one online dashboard, and clear proof your grease turns into fuel, not empty promises.
