We collect used oil.
We pay for it.
Scheduled pickups for restaurants and food businesses — every gallon weighed, documented, and paid for.
Grease trap pumping
and cleaning.
Thorough, documented service that prevents backups and keeps your kitchen compliant — reliable upon call.
Containers installed
& maintained.
We set up the right-size UCO container at your location and keep it clean — part of the service, no extra hassle.
One call covers your whole grease program
Collection, cleaning, and containers — handled by one local team. We pay for the used oil we pick up.
If you fry, we can help
From single food trucks to large institutional kitchens — if your business produces used cooking oil or grease, we'll collect it and pay you for it.
Local. Fast. Dependable.
We're not a national call center. When you call, you reach the people who run your route — and we show up when we say we will.
Switching is easy — and it's your right
You choose who collects your used cooking oil and services your grease traps. Switching can mean better service, on-time pickups, and getting paid for your oil.
Review your current contract
Check for termination terms, notice periods, and any fees.
Give written notice
Send your current provider a short written cancellation notice.
Confirm your end date
Confirm the last day of service and settle any balances.
Call A&A — we handle the rest
We schedule your first pickup and set up containers if needed — no disruption to your operations.
You are not required to use the hauler recommended by your equipment supplier, landlord, or anyone else.
You can change providers at any time, following the terms of your contract.
No law prevents you from switching to a different grease or used-oil collection service.
You have the right to be paid for your used cooking oil by the collector.
In California, used cooking oil haulers must be registered with the CDFA's Inedible Kitchen Grease program — ask any collector for proof.[4]
The rules are strict. We keep you covered.
Since 2013, food service establishments in the City of Merced operate under the city's Fats, Oils & Grease (F.O.G.) program — and similar rules apply across the Central Valley. Here's what's expected, and how we handle it.
Merced requires restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries, and delis to operate under its F.O.G. General Permit, with grease control devices kept clean and maintained — buildup leads to blockages and violations. (City of Merced)
In California, used cooking oil must be transported by a hauler registered under the CDFA's Inedible Kitchen Grease program. We provide documentation with every pickup — ask for it anytime. (CDFA)
Service records are your proof of compliance when the city inspects. We leave dated documentation after every pickup and every cleaning — no chasing paperwork. (Merced Municipal Code)
Grease poured down drains cools, hardens, and blocks pipes — a leading cause of sewer backups and overflows, and a fast way to draw fines. (EPA)
From your fryer to renewable fuel
Recycling used cooking oil keeps grease out of sewers and turns a waste stream into cleaner-burning energy — and you get paid for contributing.
Fats, oils, and grease poured down drains harden inside pipes and are a leading cause of sewer blockages and overflows. Proper collection keeps grease out of the wastewater system entirely.[1]
Used cooking oil is a major feedstock for biodiesel — a renewable fuel that reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum diesel.[2]
Every gallon recycled stays out of landfills and waterways. Instead of paying to throw oil away, your kitchen gets paid to put it back to work.[3]
Sources: [1] U.S. EPA — Sanitary Sewer Overflows · [2] U.S. Dept. of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center — Biodiesel Benefits · [3] CalRecycle — Used Oil Program · [4] California Dept. of Food & Agriculture — Inedible Kitchen Grease Program
Science-minded. Neighborhood-run.
A&A Recycled Grease Collector LLC is a family business: Andres Michel runs it together with his uncle — a professor of economics at UC Merced — and a small local team, serving restaurants and commercial kitchens across Merced and the Central Valley.
Andres grew up here — a Merced High School graduate — before earning his B.S. in Bioengineering at Stanford University and his M.S. at UCLA. He's set on a career in biofuels, a field he finds as fascinating as it is impactful, and plans to carry that interest into research that moves it forward — starting with the everyday work of collecting the Valley's used oil.
His uncle brings the other half of the equation: an economist's conviction that the Central Valley deserves better service than it has been getting. Together, their goal is simple — build the Valley's most reliable, science-driven grease recycling service, so every gallon collected here goes back to work as clean energy.
We understand professionalism, and we run the business that way: clean handling, honest weights, proper documentation, and service that respects your kitchen's time.
Common questions
Do you really pay me for my used cooking oil?+
Yes. Used cooking oil is a valuable feedstock for renewable fuel, so we pay you for every gallon we collect. The rate depends on volume and market prices — call and we'll give you a straight answer.
How often will you pick up?+
As often as your kitchen needs — weekly, biweekly, or monthly — and we adjust as your business changes. Need an extra pickup? Call and we'll come out.
Do I need my own container?+
No. We'll install a grease disposal container sized for your location and keep it clean and maintained as part of our service.
I already have a provider. Is switching legal?+
Yes — choosing your own provider is your right. Follow your current contract's notice terms and you can switch at any time. See our switching guide; we'll help with the transition.
What happens to the oil after you collect it?+
It's recycled into feedstock for renewable fuels such as biodiesel. Instead of clogging drains or ending up in a landfill, your used oil goes back to work as cleaner-burning energy.
Is my grease trap really my responsibility?+
In most jurisdictions, yes — food businesses must maintain their grease traps and keep service records. Regular cleaning protects your plumbing, avoids fines, and keeps you ready for inspections. We provide documentation with every service.
What areas do you serve?+
Merced and the surrounding Central Valley. Not sure if you're in range? Call us — if we can reach you, we will.
Let's put your oil to work
One call and we'll handle the rest — pickups scheduled around your kitchen, not the other way around.
Tell us about your kitchen
Send your details and we'll confirm your pickup by phone or email within one business day.