Thieves now hot for used frying oil

[depakid]

One man's grease is another man's gold.

As the price of restaurant grease climbs with the popularity of biodiesel, companies that refine used french-fry oil say thieves are getting to Columbus restaurants before they can.

"Within the last year and a half, it's kind of become the new copper," said Chad Derr, the Columbus sales manager for Griffin Industries, a Kentucky company that refines restaurant grease for use in a number of products, including biodiesel.

It wasn't long ago that restaurants had to pay to have used oil hauled from their kitchens. Now, they are paid for it.

But if there's a market, there are thieves. And the problem appears to be widespread. News stories from California to Canada report that thieves are siphoning the grease from drums behind restaurants before companies can collect it.

Elizabeth Lessner, president of the Central Ohio Restaurant Association, said the interest in grease has been a blessing.

"It used to be a huge nuisance to get rid of grease," said Lessner, who owns Tip Top, Betty's Fine Food & Spirits and the Surly Girl Saloon.

"Now, I can't get rid of it quick enough."

More: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/08/09/grease_theft.ART_ART_08-09-08_B1_6OAVRKC.html?sid=101

[icnorth]

1. Geeze, I can see this getting tense...

W having to bring Blackwater home to protect Haliburton grease drums from "free" enterprisers... :sarcasm: