Answers to the most common questions about used cooking oil collection, grease trap cleaning, hood cleaning, and how Grand Natural works. Can't find what you need? Call (855) 519-5550.
Yes. Grand Natural provides used cooking oil collection completely free of charge. The container, pickup, and service all have no cost. High-volume accounts may also qualify for rebates, and the service can be applied as a trade-off against other Grand Natural services.
What size container does Grand Natural provide?
Grand Natural provides free stainless steel containers in multiple sizes — from 55-gallon drums to 275-gallon IBC totes and larger outdoor vault units. The right size depends on your kitchen's weekly oil output. We assess your volume when setting up your account and size the container accordingly.
How often will Grand Natural pick up my used cooking oil?
Pickup frequency is set automatically based on your kitchen's oil output. Most restaurants receive pickups every 1 to 4 weeks. You do not need to call — Grand Natural monitors your container volume and schedules collection accordingly. You can also request an unscheduled pickup through the EcoSystem app at any time.
What types of cooking oil does Grand Natural accept?
Grand Natural accepts all common cooking oils and animal fats: vegetable oil, canola, soybean, sunflower, corn oil, pork fat, lard, chicken fat, beef tallow, and bacon grease. Oil must not be contaminated with water, cleaning chemicals, or non-food waste.
Is there any cost to the restaurant for the container or pickup?
No. The stainless steel container is provided and installed at no charge. Pickup is free. Grand Natural provides the service free — you do not pay Grand Natural for used cooking oil collection. High-volume accounts may qualify for rebates.
What happens to the used oil after Grand Natural collects it?
100% of collected used cooking oil is processed through certified rendering and biodiesel production facilities. The oil is refined into biodiesel fuel meeting ASTM D6751 standards. Nothing goes to landfill.
Grease Trap Cleaning
How often does a grease trap need to be cleaned?
Most restaurants require grease trap cleaning every 30 to 90 days depending on cooking volume, trap size, and local FOGCO requirements. High-volume fryers fill traps faster. Grand Natural calibrates your service schedule to actual accumulation rates — not a generic cycle. The rule of thumb is that traps must be cleaned before they reach 25% solids by volume.
What is FOGCO compliance?
FOGCO stands for Fats, Oils, and Grease Control Ordinance. Most municipalities require restaurants to maintain functioning grease interceptors, clean them regularly, and submit proof of service through licensed hauler manifests. Grand Natural handles all documentation automatically and submits required records to your local pretreatment authority after every service.
What documentation do I get after a grease trap cleaning?
Every service generates a timestamped manifest that includes the technician's license number, waste volume, disposal facility information, and service date. All manifests are stored digitally in your EcoSystem account and available for download any time — no searching through filing cabinets during a surprise inspection.
Can Grand Natural handle emergency grease trap overflow?
Yes. Grand Natural offers same-day emergency pumping in most service areas. Call (855) 519-5550 and identify it as an emergency for priority dispatch. Emergency crews are available in all major markets.
What are the fines for failing a grease trap inspection?
Fines vary by jurisdiction but typically range from $500 to $5,000 per violation. Repeat violations can result in sewer surcharge fees, required immediate remediation at the restaurant's expense, and in severe cases, forced closure until compliance is achieved. Grand Natural's scheduled maintenance prevents citations before they happen.
Hood Cleaning and Fire Inspection
How often does NFPA 96 require hood cleaning?
NFPA 96 cleaning frequency depends on cooking type: monthly for solid-fuel operations like wood and charcoal, quarterly for high-volume and charbroiling kitchens, every 6 months for moderate-volume full-service restaurants, and annually for low-volume or seasonal operations.
Does hood cleaning affect my insurance?
Yes. Most commercial property insurance policies for restaurants require NFPA 96 compliant hood cleaning as a condition of coverage. A grease fire in an uncleaned hood system can be grounds for an insurer to deny a claim — even with an active policy. Grand Natural provides the required dated service certificate after every cleaning.
Is the fire suppression system inspection included?
Yes. Every Grand Natural hood cleaning service includes a visual inspection of the fire suppression system: nozzle coverage, suppression agent tanks, manual pull station operation, and fusible link condition. Any issues are documented and reported immediately.
Service and Scheduling
What states does Grand Natural serve?
Grand Natural operates in 47 states with active service coverage. Major markets include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, San Diego, Sacramento, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston. Call (855) 519-5550 to confirm availability in your specific location.
How quickly can Grand Natural start service?
Most new accounts are operational within 2 to 3 business days of the initial call. This includes container installation for UCO collection and the first scheduled grease trap service. Call (855) 519-5550 to get started.
Can Grand Natural service multiple locations under one account?
Yes. Grand Natural manages multi-location restaurant groups with consolidated billing and a single EcoSystem dashboard showing service status, compliance records, and invoices across all locations. Grand Natural serves groups ranging from 2 locations to 200+.
Does service require a long-term contract?
Contact Grand Natural at (855) 519-5550 for current contract terms. Service agreements are designed to be straightforward with no hidden fees.
What is the EcoSystem platform?
EcoSystem is Grand Natural's digital platform for managing all your kitchen services. It stores every service record, manifest, and compliance certificate — accessible from any device. You can view your service schedule, request unscheduled pickups, pay invoices, and pull any compliance document in seconds for a health inspector.
What do I do if I have an emergency — clogged drain, overflowing grease trap — during service hours?
Call (855) 519-5550 immediately and identify it as an emergency. Grand Natural maintains emergency response capacity for grease trap overflow, kitchen drain blockages, and related issues in all major service markets. Most emergency calls are dispatched within 2 to 4 hours.
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