Yellow Grease Price Tracker
Track current yellow grease and used cooking oil prices by month and region. Updated monthly with market data from rendering plants and UCO collectors across the US.
Monthly Price Trend
National average yellow grease price ($/lb) — January 2025 through March 2026.
Regional Prices
Yellow grease prices vary by region based on local supply, demand, and proximity to biodiesel refineries.
| Region | Price/lb | Price/gal | vs. National Avg |
|---|
Understanding Yellow Grease Pricing
Yellow grease is the industry term for filtered used cooking oil (UCO) collected from restaurants, cafeterias, and food processing plants. It's one of the most actively traded commodities in the rendering industry, with prices that fluctuate based on energy markets, government policy, and seasonal demand patterns.
For restaurant operators, understanding yellow grease pricing isn't just academic — it directly affects how much your UCO collector pays you (or whether they charge you). A busy restaurant generating 300 gallons per month could earn $500+ annually just by choosing a collector who pays market rates instead of one who offers "free pickup" as the only compensation.
What Drives Yellow Grease Prices
- Biodiesel demand. Yellow grease is a primary feedstock for biodiesel (B100) production. When biodiesel margins are strong, rendering plants pay more for UCO. Federal and state biodiesel mandates create baseline demand that supports pricing.
- Soybean oil prices. Yellow grease competes with soybean oil as a biodiesel feedstock. When soy oil prices rise, biodiesel producers shift toward cheaper yellow grease, driving UCO prices up.
- Renewable fuel standards. Government programs like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) create credits for biofuels made from waste fats. These credits significantly boost the economics of yellow grease collection.
- Seasonal patterns. Restaurant cooking oil consumption peaks during summer (travel season, outdoor dining) and winter holidays, increasing supply. Biodiesel demand peaks in spring and fall for blending into heating oil and summer diesel.
- Regional supply and demand. Areas with high restaurant density and nearby biodiesel refineries see higher prices. Coastal regions typically pay more than inland areas.
How to Get the Best Price for Your UCO
- Know your volume. Track how many gallons you produce monthly. Collectors pay more for consistent, high-volume accounts.
- Filter your oil. Remove food particles and sediment. Clean yellow grease with low free fatty acid (FFA) content commands premium pricing.
- Eliminate water contamination. Water in UCO reduces quality and weight. Never pour partially cooled or wet oil into storage containers.
- Get multiple quotes. Contact at least 3 collectors annually. The UCO market is competitive, and rates vary significantly between companies.
- Negotiate based on data. Use current market prices (like this tracker) as leverage when discussing rates with your collector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yellow grease is filtered used cooking oil collected from restaurants and food service operations. It gets its name from its characteristic amber-yellow color after filtering. Yellow grease is one of the most valuable byproducts a restaurant produces — it's the primary feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and increasingly, sustainable aviation fuel. The industry standard requires yellow grease to have a free fatty acid (FFA) content below 15%.
Yellow grease is priced per pound and fluctuates based on soybean oil prices, biodiesel demand, government renewable fuel mandates, seasonal cooking volumes, and regional supply and demand. Prices are typically quoted in cents per pound, with the national average ranging from $0.20 to $0.35/lb in recent years. Prices tend to be higher in coastal regions where biodiesel refineries are concentrated and lower in the Midwest where supply is abundant.
Contact UCO collection companies in your area — most will place a free collection container at your location and either pay you for the oil or offer free pickup service. To get the best rates: filter your oil before storing it, keep water contamination to zero, generate consistent volume (50+ gallons/month), and get quotes from at least 3 collectors. Use our UCO Recycler Finder to find collectors in your area.
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