Food Scrap Management

Animal Feed

Direct Feed to Animals

Extreme care must be taken to prevent the spread of diseases such as swine fever, Exotic Newcastle disease, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), also known as "Mad Cow Disease" (BSE update), but farmers and ranchers may supplement their livestock’s diet with the right type of food scraps.

Please inquire with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for all information related to animal feed.

Rendering

Rendering refers to the processing of grease, fat, meat, or bone into usable products. Rendering companies process animal by-products into saleable commodities. Collection service areas, costs, and types of materials accepted vary. Grease from restaurants is a common by-product collected and processed by rendering or tallow companies, but many companies will also collect or accept meat, fat, bone, and dead animal carcasses.

If you have excess oil, grease or uncooked meat, bone or animal blood, contact a local renderer for collection. These companies collect and process the materials into feedstock for a variety of products. Please contact rendering companies directly to arrange for service. Rendering companies are listed in the Yellow Pages under "rendering" or "grease collection."

Resources

The California Fats, Oils, and Grease Work Group (Cal FOG) provides a list of grease hauling and rendering companies, a list of facilities accepting grease, technical guides, publications, and more.

The National Renderers Association (NRA) provides services, programs and technical support to the North American rendering industry, both in national and international markets. NRA publishes a magazine, holds an annual spring meeting and an annual convention.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) represents the biodiesel industry in the United States. NBB provides information on fats and oils trading rules, legislative issues, a guide to buying biodiesel, fact sheets, definitions, specifications, and more.

Other Resources

The U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides information on its role in animal health and welfare, plant health, biotechnology, and more.