Brown Grease Cream and Rag Layer Collection
We safely pump the toughest grease trap waste, recover valuable oil for renewable energy, and provide you with inspection ready documentation every time.
★★★★★ 5.0
from 100+ reviews
Technician operating specialized FOG separation equipment to process and transfer recovered fats, oils, and grease into valuable renewable resources.
★★★★★
Greasecycle is always reliable and very responsive whenever we call the office. We switched services from our prior vendor over 5 years ago and never looked back!
★★★★★
This is one of the best companies I’ve ever worked for. They really care about their clients and the staff is acts more like family than employees.
★★★★★
I’ve worked at multiple restaurants in the Cary area and we ALWAYS use Greasecycle. Their drivers are the best and we never even have to call for a pick up. I totally recommend them
What is Brown Grease? (And Why It Matters)
In simple terms, brown grease is the thick, heavy mixture that builds up in grease traps at restaurants and food plants. It’s a mix of fats, oils, and grease (FOG), water, and solids. It includes:
- Cream Layer: The valuable, fatty layer that floats on top.
- Rag Layer: The stringy, matted layer of fats and solids below the cream.
- Tank Bottoms: The heavier water and food solids at the bottom.
Utilities across the country require this material to be removed regularly because it hardens inside pipes, causing costly sewer blockages and environmental overflows. Our service keeps you compliant and your drains flowing freely.
Industrial grease processing facility with steam venting from advanced separation equipment that recovers valuable materials from restaurant waste streams.
2,000+
Restauraunts Served
23M+
Gallons of UCO Recycled
80,239
Tons of Co2 Saved
How Our Process Works (5 Steps to Compliance and Value)
1) Site Check & Intake
We confirm safe access and align our service with your utility’s rules, like the common “clean at 25% full” standard, to ensure you’re always in compliance.
2) Sample and test
We pull a small sample to test for MIU (Moisture, Impurities, Unsaponifiables) and FFA (Free Fatty Acids). These simple metrics transparently determine the recoverable oil value.
3) Centrifuge Recovery
At our facility, industrial centrifuges spin the waste at high speed, precisely separating it into three streams: recovered oil, water, and solids. This process recovers far more oil than simple settling.
4) Docs & Disposal
You receive a signed manifest for every load, detailing the date, time, volume, and destination. These are the digital-ready records your health inspector wants to see.
5) Settlement & Payment
If your brown grease contains recoverable oil, we pay you based on the actual yield and quality results. It’s all spelled out in your agreement; no guesswork.
Stop Losing Money to Inadequate Grease Management
We’ll respond ASAP.
The Benefits: More Than Just a Pumping Service
Don’t see a service for you? Send us your information anyway. We’re always looking to add more services. Contact Us
Prevent Backups and Odors
Keeping your trap clean prevents slow drains, foul odors, and expensive emergency plumbing callsc
Pass Inspections with Ease
With clean traps and organized paperwork, you can be confident during health and utility inspections.
Maximize Your Rebates
Our centrifuge process recovers more oil from the cream and rag layers, meaning a higher potential rebate for you.
Better for the Environment
We turn recovered oil into a feedstock for renewable energy like biofuel and biogas, keeping it out of landfills and sewers.
Industrial grease processing facility with steam venting from advanced separation equipment that recovers valuable materials from restaurant waste streams.
Services for Every Need
Scheduled Brown Grease Pumping: Reliable, on-time service for restaurants and food service kitchens.
Cream & Rag Layer Offtake: We purchase decanted brown grease cream and rag layer from high-volume producers, with pricing based on MIU/FFA yield.
Toll Processing: Have your own rag layer or tank bottoms? We can process your material at our facility and return the recovered oil to you for a fee.
Emergency Service: Backups happen. Call us, and we’ll get a truck rolling to get you flowing again fast.
Frequently Asked
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is the “rag layer”?
It’s the emulsified mat of fats, soaps, and solids that gets trapped between the top oil layer and the bottom water layer. It’s hard to pump but often contains significant recoverable oil that our centrifuges can extract.
Do I really need to clean my trap when it’s “25% full”?
Yes, most municipalities mandate this. It ensures the trap has enough capacity to effectively separate FOG from water, preventing grease from escaping into the sewer main. We help you monitor this so you don’t have to.
Why can’t I mix my used cooking oil (yellow grease) with brown grease?
They are entirely different materials. Yellow grease is much cleaner fryer oil with high value. Brown grease is trap waste with high water and solids content. Mixing them contaminates the clean oil and violates proper handling procedures.
What paperwork will I get?
A signed manifest at every visit and a digital copy for your records. This is your proof of compliance.
Ready to move forward?
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