GreaseCycle
GreaseCycle is a family-owned waste services company that collects used cooking oil and cleans grease traps for 6,500+ restaurants across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, selling recovered oil as certified biofuel feedstock.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersRaleigh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GreaseCycle does
GreaseCycle (Greasecycle LLC) is a privately held, family-owned waste management services company founded in 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina, that operates at the intersection of used cooking oil (UCO) recycling and grease trap cleaning for commercial kitchens. The company serves more than 6,500 restaurant and food service accounts across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, dispatching hundreds of daily and weekly collection routes and operating two permitted processing plants — the original facility built in Raleigh in 2012 and a second opened in Charlotte in 2022. Its technology base centers on industrial centrifuges that separate collected brown grease into recovered oil, water, and solids streams, with MIU/FFA testing used to determine recoverable yield and rebate payments. The company also holds ISCC EU and CORSIA certifications, allowing collected materials to be sold as certified feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production.
The business model combines two reinforcing revenue streams. On the service side, GreaseCycle performs grease trap pumping and cleaning across GGIs, AGRUs, and manual traps on a flat-rate-per-visit basis with no contracts, no setup fees, and 24/7 emergency response, supported by signed manifests and inspector-ready compliance documentation. On the commodity side, the company collects UCO for free, sells the recovered oil as biodiesel/SAF feedstock, and returns a quarterly rebate to restaurant customers indexed to the EPA feedstock index — averaging $900–$2,100 per quarter per sit-down restaurant. Ancillary monetization includes brown grease cream and rag layer offtake from high-volume producers, toll processing for external material, and preventative jet draining. Distribution is a hybrid of direct field sales (Relationship Managers, Strategic Account Executives) and digital self-service (website, live rebate calculator, SMS/phone), with enterprise customers including McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Wingstop, Applebee's, and IHOP alongside a long tail of independent restaurants.
Operationally, GreaseCycle reports a 99.4% on-time pickup rate over a rolling 12 months, 23M+ gallons of cumulative UCO recycled, 80,239 tons of CO2 avoided, and customer ratings of 4.9/5 (312 Google/BBB reviews) and 5.0/5 (100+ Trustpilot/Yelp/Google reviews). The company has been named to the Inc. 5000 list in 2018 and again in 2022, remains founder- and family-led with a recently added COO, and has explicitly avoided private equity or venture capital investment to date. Its competitive positioning rests on route density across the Carolinas and Virginia, vertically integrated collection-and-processing, sustainability certifications that unlock premium biofuel offtake, and a dual-service model that allows restaurants to consolidate FOG compliance and UCO monetization with a single vendor.
GreaseCycle firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GreaseCycle
- Legal name
- Greasecycle LLC
- Website
- https://grease-cycle.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GreaseCycle is a family-owned waste services company that collects used cooking oil and cleans grease traps for 6,500+ restaurants across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, selling recovered oil as certified biofuel feedstock.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GreaseCycle industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Waste Management Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grease Trap, Used Cooking Oil & FOG Services (Collection & Recycling) (EUAIAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grease Trap & FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) Pumping & Management (BPALAMAJ), Used Oil, Lubricants & Industrial Fluids Recovery/Recycling (IMAIAFAM)
Keywords
Where GreaseCycle is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Raleigh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
GreaseCycle business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Used Cooking Oil Rebates: Customers receive quarterly rebate checks for their used cooking oil. Payment is based on market price tracked via EPA feedstock index. Average sit-down restaurant earns $900 to $2,100 per quarter. High-volume accounts can lock in a floor rate. Rebates paid directly to restaurant owners.
- Grease Trap Cleaning Services: Flat rate per visit pricing with no fuel surcharges. Services include pumping, cleaning, and documentation for health inspectors. Revenue from service fees for grease trap maintenance across commercial kitchens.
- Brown Grease and Cream Layer Processing: Processing of brown grease cream and rag layer from high-volume producers. Toll processing services available where Greasecycle processes customer material and returns recovered oil. Pricing based on MIU/FFA yield results.
- Commodity Sales - Biodiesel Feedstock: Collected used cooking oil and recovered brown grease sold as raw material for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production. ISCC-certified materials command premium in biofuel markets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Quarterly | Used Cooking Oil Recycling - Rebate Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grease Trap Cleaning - Flat Rate Per Visit |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Brown Grease Cream and Rag Layer Offtake |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Toll Processing Service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
GreaseCycle product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GreaseCycle provides complimentary pickup and recycling of used cooking oil from commercial kitchens, paying restaurants quarterly rebates based on volume and the EPA feedstock index. The company also provides grease trap cleaning, brown grease processing, and 24/7 emergency drain/overflow services, with collected oil sold as ISCC-certified feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production.
Product overview
GreaseCycle offers a unified suite of waste management services for commercial kitchens, combining used cooking oil (UCO) recycling and grease trap cleaning as the core offering. The company operates a dual-service model where restaurants receive both services from a single vendor. Core products include Used Cooking Oil Recycling & Pickup (with free containers and quarterly rebates), Grease Trap Cleaning (with compliance documentation), Commercial Waste Disposal and Processing, and 24/7 Emergency Services. Additional offerings include Brown Grease Cream and Rag Layer Collection with centrifuge recovery, and Preventative Jet Draining. The company also holds ISCC EU and CORSIA certifications enabling the sale of collected materials as feedstocks for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Used Cooking Oil Recycling & Pickup Scheduled complimentary pickup of used cooking oil from commercial kitchens, with free secure containers, signed manifests, and quarterly rebate payments to the restaurant based on gallons collected and EPA-tracked feedstock index. Designed for restaurants and food service operators who want to monetize their used cooking oil and stay compliant with disposal regulations.
- Grease Trap Cleaning Flat-rate per-visit cleaning and maintenance of grease traps, including GGIs, AGRUs, and manual traps, with signed manifests, volume reporting, and inspector-ready compliance documentation. Targeted at commercial kitchens that need FOG compliance and prevention of drain backups.
- Commercial Waste Disposal and Processing Permitted facility offering compliant processing of grease trap waste and brown grease for direct restaurant drop-offs and third-party haulers. Serves food service operators and waste haulers needing licensed disposal and processing capacity.
- 24/7 Emergency Services for Drains and Overflows
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.4% on-time pickup rate
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GreaseCycle
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GreaseCycle technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
GreaseCycle partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ISCC (International Sustainability Carbon Certification)coreGreasecycle participates in ISCC EU and CORSIA certification schemes to verify that collected used cooking oil and grease trap materials are genuine wastes or residues. This certification enables materials to be sold as feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production in certified markets. Certified customers include points of origin (restaurants) that supply used cooking oil to Greasecycle.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GreaseCycle competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Waste Management: Largest US waste hauler (NYSE: WM) with organic waste and grease trap service offerings through its WM Organics and commercial services segments. Indirect competitor with vastly greater route density and capital for market entry.
- Saria: European-headquartered group with significant North American rendering and UCO collection operations through entities like SARIA Bio-Industries, producing feedstock for renewable diesel and SAF. Comparable in UCO aggregation and biofuel feedstock sales.
- Darling Ingredients: Public, global rendering and used cooking oil collection company (NYSE: DAR) that produces renewable diesel feedstock (Diamond Green Diesel JV) and operates a much larger UCO and rendering network. Directly comparable end-market and commodity exposure.
- Republic Services: Major US waste and recycling company (NYSE: RSG) with growing organics processing capabilities that competes for commercial food-service waste. Broader incumbent with potential to enter FOG/UCO collection at scale.
Direct peers
- Heritage-Crystal Clean: Used oil collection, antifreeze recycling, and industrial waste services provider with national routes, selling recovered oil to refiners. Closely comparable commodity-based service model and route-based logistics.
- Valley Proteins: Rendering and used cooking oil recycler operating across the eastern US, producing tallow, yellow grease, and other fats/oils for biofuel and feed markets. Directly comparable feedstock collection and processing operation.
- Mahoney Environmental: Family-owned used cooking oil collection and grease trap cleaning services provider serving restaurants across the US, with a comparable dual-service model (UCO recycling + grease trap pumping) and rebate-based customer value proposition.
- Baker Commodities: Rendering and used cooking oil collection company with plants across the US, selling rendered fats and oils into biodiesel and animal feed markets. Closely comparable business model of converting UCO and animal byproducts into commodity feedstocks.
- MOPAC (Modern Processing and Agribusiness Company): Rendering and used cooking oil collection operation in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, producing tallow and yellow grease for biofuel and feed markets. Comparable regional Southeast footprint and feedstock output.
Others
- Stericycle: Compliance-focused waste services provider (regulated waste, document destruction, sharps) with adjacent exposure to commercial compliance documentation needs in the food-services vertical. Not a direct UCO/grease competitor but serves similar enterprise customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GreaseCycle social profiles
Digital presenceGreaseCycle compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
GreaseCycle financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GreaseCycle leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
GreaseCycle funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GreaseCycle M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GreaseCycle
What does GreaseCycle do?
GreaseCycle provides complimentary pickup and recycling of used cooking oil from commercial kitchens, paying restaurants quarterly rebates based on volume and the EPA feedstock index. The company also provides grease trap cleaning, brown grease processing, and 24/7 emergency drain/overflow services, with collected oil sold as ISCC-certified feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production.
Is GreaseCycle a public or private company?
GreaseCycle is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GreaseCycle founded?
GreaseCycle was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GreaseCycle based?
GreaseCycle is headquartered in Raleigh, United States, in the North America region.
How does GreaseCycle make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Used Cooking Oil Rebates are the primary driver. The others are grease Trap Cleaning Services, brown Grease and Cream Layer Processing and commodity Sales - Biodiesel Feedstock.
Who are GreaseCycle's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Waste Management, Saria, Darling Ingredients and Republic Services. Direct peers are Heritage-Crystal Clean, Valley Proteins, Mahoney Environmental, Baker Commodities and MOPAC (Modern Processing and Agribusiness Company). Stericycle is listed as an others.
Does GreaseCycle have an API?
No public API is recorded for GreaseCycle.
What industry is GreaseCycle in?
GreaseCycle's product category is Commercial Waste Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAGAK, Grease Trap, Used Cooking Oil & FOG Services (Collection & Recycling), with a secondary code of BPALAMAJ, Grease Trap & FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) Pumping & Management.