BUFFALO, NY – Theft of used cooking oil is becoming a growing problem for the renewable fuels supply chain, according to reporting by OPIS. Buffalo Biodiesel is warning about 30,000 restaurant customers across the Northeast as demand increases for used cooking oil as a biodiesel feedstock.
OPIS reports one recent New York case involved 45,000 pounds of stolen cooking oil sold to a Pennsylvania refinery. Another case involved about 12,000 gallons of stolen oil, along with cash seized by law enforcement.
The company says hundreds of thefts have occurred at customer locations over several years. Outdoor storage bins are especially vulnerable when restaurants lack lighting, cameras or other security.
The North American Renderers Association estimates U.S. used cooking oil theft totaled between $300 million and $500 million last year. Strong demand for low-carbon fuel feedstocks has increased the value of collected oil.
Used cooking oil competes with soybean oil and animal fats in renewable fuel markets, making theft another pressure point across the broader agricultural feedstock supply chain.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Growing theft of used cooking oil reflects stronger competition for renewable fuel feedstocks tied to agricultural markets.