RTI Recycled More Than 390 Million Pounds of Used Cooking Oil in 2025

Why It Matters

RTI’s scale‑up demonstrates how the food‑service sector can turn waste into high‑value biofuels, delivering measurable carbon reductions and reshaping the renewable‑energy supply chain.

Key Takeaways

• RTI recycled 393 million lb of used cooking oil in 2025.
• Bulk fresh‑oil delivery avoided 20 million plastic jugs, saving 31.5 million lb trash.
• Renewable diesel from UCO cuts tailpipe emissions up to 75 %.
• Partnerships with Phillips 66 turn UCO into biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
• Over 45,000 foodservice operators, including McDonald’s, benefit from RTI’s program.

Pulse Analysis

The magnitude of RTI’s used‑cooking‑oil recycling effort marks a watershed moment for circular‑economy practices in the food‑service industry. Converting 393 million lb of UCO into renewable fuels not only diverts waste from landfills but also creates a domestic feedstock for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel, reducing reliance on imported petroleum. As regulators tighten emissions standards, large‑scale recyclers like RTI are positioned to capture a growing share of the biofuel market, especially as airlines and trucking firms seek greener fuel options.

Beyond fuel production, RTI’s bulk‑delivery model tackles packaging waste at its source. By eliminating more than 20 million plastic jugs, the company avoided roughly 31.5 million lb of trash and freed 9.5 million cubic feet of landfill space. The associated CO₂e savings—over 85 million lb—are comparable to the annual electricity consumption of thousands of households, underscoring how logistics innovations can deliver substantial environmental dividends without compromising service quality.

Strategic alliances with renewable‑energy giants such as Phillips 66 amplify RTI’s impact. Together they transform reclaimed oil into renewable diesel that can slash tail‑pipe emissions by up to 75 %, and into sustainable aviation fuel that helps airlines meet aggressive decarbonization targets. This collaboration not only strengthens supply chains for low‑carbon fuels but also signals to investors that the food‑service sector is a viable partner in the broader energy transition. As RTI expands its customer base—including McDonald’s, Shake Shack and Kroger—the scalability of its model could set a new industry benchmark for sustainability and profitability.