biodiesel places stealing my supplies!

(since there doesn't seem to be much chatter on this forum)

I just wanted to rant about how here in Northern California, commercial bioD places are walking in to restaurants where I have been getting free veg oil and offering to pay them - cutting me off from my supply. While I understand that it's the restaurant owners making the decision to make money rather than give something away, it's pretty frustrating to have something taken from me that propels my home so that someone else can make a profit, selling ginned up veg oil to consumers.

You are just now having that problem? Consider yourself lucky. That has been a huge problem here for a long time.

You have to decide whether you want to pay them--some guys may go for a barter for something that stays off the books. What do you have to trade? I know guys that do shares--they give back in biodiesel. I know guys that pay in mushrooms or salad or pastured pork.

But energy prices are going up no matter what...

if you've got a good relationship with some restaurants, you might get them back. many of the commercial places charge restaurants to rent their oil storage equipment, then charge them a pick up fee to empty the containers. the balance doesn't end up being quite what the restaurant expects, and is only paid once or twice annually. the commercial outfits do sometimes clean grease traps, though, which I doubt you have been offering to do. a friendly reminder about how you didn't charge them for anything might go a long way. buying something from the restaurants wouldn't hurt.

I also like the barter option. maybe offer finished fuel in return for the oil.

My understanding is that in CA restaurants are required by law to have a contract with a licensed waste hauler (I forget what the name is) to deal with the waste oil since it's "hazardous". In researching the viability of this as a fuel source I came across this info somewhere.
So, the "theives" may be using this as leverage, since the owners are mandated to have a contract for this service.
Apparently the rendering (that's the name) companies have a lobby of some sorts in Sacramento.
Perhaps, I am mistaken, but this was my understanding.

You might consider switching to another oil. Do you have any agricultural mechanics in your area? You could get hydraulic oil. Do you have any transmission shops? Get ATF. Both of these require blending to thin, but work well, and don't require engine modifications to run.

It does suck when a supply runs dry, but we just have to adapt and look for other options. I don't have any veggie oil within a 80 mile radius of my home, so I am trying to make due with other oils.