Thieves swiping used oil to brew biodiesel

[Cybergal]

‘Grease’ no musical: Thieves swiping used oil to brew biodiesel
5/20/08

SAN FRANCISCO —A few years ago, drums of used french fry grease were only of interest to a small network of underground biofuel brewers, who would use the slimy oil to power their souped-up antique Mercedes.

Now, restaurants from Berkeley, Calif. to Sedgwick, Kan. are reporting thefts of old cooking oil worth thousands of dollars by rustlers who are refining it into barrels of biofuel in backyard stills.

"It's like a war zone going on right now over grease," said David Levenson, who owns a grease hauling business in San Francisco's Mission District. "We're seeing more and more people stealing grease because it lets them stay away from the pump, but it's hurting our bottom line."

Levenson, who converted the engine in his '83 Mercedes to run on straight canola oil, has built up contracts to collect the liquid leftovers from 400 restaurants in the last two years.

Last week when his pump truck arrived at Thee Parkside, a dive bar known for its chili-cheese fries, his driver found someone had already helped himself to their barrel of yellow oil.

Grease is transformed into fuel through a chemical process called transesterification, which removes glycerine and adds methanol to the oil, leaving a thinner product that can power a diesel engine. Biodiesel can also be blended with petroleum diesel, and blends of the alternative fuel are now sold at 1,400 gas stations across the country.
More here................. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stori...biodiesel.aspx

[AfterShock]

I reckon it's twue -----
one person's trash is another persons treasure.

Restaurants pay a fee for the removal of old grease, I'm sure -- so I doubt they really care who takes it away.
Not likely they'll post a guard to prevent theft, which would also save them haul-away fees.

[Highballin]

Originally Posted by AfterShock

I reckon it's twue -----
one person's trash is another persons treasure.

Restaurants pay a fee for the removal of old grease, I'm sure -- so I doubt they really care who takes it away.
Not likely they'll post a guard to prevent theft, which would also save them haul-away fees.

It was Jack in the box or McDonalds saving money.Cutting overhead.

[AfterShock]

Originally Posted by Highballin

It was Jack in the box or McDonalds saving money.Cutting overhead.

YeAH!
Ya reckon they recycle it back INto the meat?

[MedicineMan]

no. they USED to pay people to haul it away. now that people want it they want to be paid for you to haul it away. this is one reason I got rid of my processor as everywhere I went they wanted me to pay to take the used oil and I just wasn't that interested

[WiseOne]

I saw that on the news and the restaurants are getting sick of having oil splattered all over their floors when they get in in the mornings. It's bad now...just think how much worse it's going to get soon!

[badsey]

with the way diesel is rising in price, I will be soon backing into MickyDs for my fill-up. Another few months of price rises and I may be working at McD!

Do want fries with that?

[MedicineMan]

I said strawberry shake ya dummy not Vanilla!

[Highballin]

Originally Posted by AfterShock

YeAH!
Ya reckon they recycle it back INto the meat?

Yes I think they do at that.Call it the new BIO BURGER.

[GuysLady (Weather Lady)]

That thought just made stomach rolll... ew...