As diesel fuel prices continue to climb, there is more and more demand for waste vegetable oil to make biodiesel. But without a reliable source of free or very cheap usable waste vegetable oil, home-brewed biodiesel may not be economically feasible.

According to this, demand is so high that there is a growing problem of theft in some areas: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0506/p01s03-usgn.html
This article mentions that while most commercial grease collectors formerly charged to collect the used oil, they now either collect it free or even pay the restaurant, and that WVO can sell for $1.35 a gallon.

So, those of you who are currently making your own biodiesel from waste vegetable oil that you get from restaurants, here is the question:

How easy is it to get waste vegetable oil from restaurants that is good enough to be usable to make biodiesel?

Are you still able to get it free, or is that difficult to do now?

If you're now having to pay for usable WVO, how much are you paying?

I got into this when resteraunts were still paying to dispose of WVO. So I still have those sources as free oil, but alot of people have offered to buy it from them. Thank god for loyalty. I know of others that have been trying to get oil, and more and more resteraunts are charging for it and some people I know are paying $1 a gallon for WVO.

I guess the other question is, how often do you have to collect it?

And if that's say, at least once a week, doesn't tie you to that location so that you cannot take more than a short vacation without finding someone you can trust to collect the used oil while you're gone?

One resteraunt that I collect, I supply them a barrel and rotate barrells every 3 weeks. If I'm going on vacation, I will rotate before I leave so it won't be a problem. The other 2 I do collect once a week. If I'm going to be gone more than a week, I will inform them so that they don't think that I've left them. These 2 resteraunts already put the used oil back into the oil jugs it originally came out of so it is just a matter of them storing it out of the way until I return. This is the way I've done it for the last 2 1/2 years and haven't had any problems.

Around here the resturants are all on a contract & they are getting 65 cents a gallon & have been offerd more but wont break the contract. They are worried about the long term relibility of new buyers. I am giving up on the make my own due to its not as cheap to produce versis what I make in my shop for all the extra running around plus equipmet costs. Dino wins out with me at least at the present. But I love driving my diesel 07 3500 dull crew cab.

One resteraunt that I collect, I supply them a barrel and rotate barrells every 3 weeks. If I'm going on vacation, I will rotate before I leave so it won't be a problem. The other 2 I do collect once a week. If I'm going to be gone more than a week, I will inform them so that they don't think that I've left them. These 2 resteraunts already put the used oil back into the oil jugs it originally came out of so it is just a matter of them storing it out of the way until I return. This is the way I've done it for the last 2 1/2 years and haven't had any problems.

How much oil are you able to get from which kinds of restaurants?

What I'm getting at here is, if a small, independent restaurant might be more likely to let an individual take their used oil, how much used oil might they have per week or month?

Finding a source for WVO has been pretty tough since most of the restaurants in my area are under contract. I did pick up two recently that had just opened and consider myself lucky for finding a free source.

Pick up 3 times a week at one and once every two weeks at another,the others call me when its ready to go maybe once a month.Been steady for over 2 years now.People give it away catch 200 gallons occasionally when they get more than they need.No probs here yet in collecting more oil than I need.:)

How much oil are you able to get from which kinds of restaurants?

What I'm getting at here is, if a small, independent restaurant might be more likely to let an individual take their used oil, how much used oil might they have per week or month?

One place is a bowling alley that I pick up every Monday and is about 5 blocks from my work and is 7 gallons a week.

Another is a hawiian resteraunt that I pick up every Monday and is 1/2 block from my work and I get between 7 and 10 gallons per week.

The other is a home style cafe and have about 30 gallons of oil every 3 weeks, so 10 gallons a week.

I'm averaging around 25 gallons a week and need to find another source, because that is about how much fuel I use in a week with normal work, groceries, etc. running around. If I plan a trip/vacation/race, then I don't have enough.

One place is a bowling alley that I pick up every Monday and is about 5 blocks from my work and is 7 gallons a week.

Another is a hawiian resteraunt that I pick up every Monday and is 1/2 block from my work and I get between 7 and 10 gallons per week.

The other is a home style cafe and have about 30 gallons of oil every 3 weeks, so 10 gallons a week.

I'm averaging around 25 gallons a week and need to find another source, because that is about how much fuel I use in a week with normal work, groceries, etc. running around. If I plan a trip/vacation/race, then I don't have enough.

What is the cost of making your biodiesel. I hear 70 cents / gallon from advertisers of biodiesel setup. Is that the real cost? I'm looking at getting into making my own also.

My hard cost is $1.10 / gallon not including power to operate the system or heat the oil, but that is not much.

$4.55 x 8 gallon methanol = $36.40
$7.69 per 2 lb bottle of lye = $7.69

$44.09 / 40 gallons bio = $1.10

What is the cost of making your biodiesel. I hear 70 cents / gallon from advertisers of biodiesel setup. Is that the real cost? I'm looking at getting into making my own also.
As the poll indicates, the potential stumbling block is the increasing difficulty in getting used oil at little or no cost from restaurants. You might want to check with a few local restaurants to see if you can get any WVO before getting in too deep.

If you live in a decent sized city, you should have no problem finding oil. While many people are running veg now, it's a lot of work and most people couldn't be bothered.

I have 2 places I collect from. One demands I pick up there oil every other week... the other I go to once a month. Both put the oil in the cubies for me. If I wasn't collecting it, they'd probably just put it in the trash.

If you live in a decent sized city, you should have no problem finding oil. While many people are running veg now, it's a lot of work and most people couldn't be bothered.
Yeah, amen to that! If it were not for that relatively high barrier to entry, there wouldn't be any supply of WVO available.

I'm just guessing, but I suspect that it may make a difference in which part of the country you live. Home-made biodiesel from WVO originally seems to have been more commonplace in the Pacific Northwest.

I was thinking that maybe in the more rural areas, there might not be enough restaurants to have made commercial-scale waste oil collection feasible in the past, and so, it may be typical that nobody is collecting it there? If some areas have less stringent disposal laws or enforcement, maybe most restaurants have been dumping it, which would have been the easiest thing for them to do in the past, when they might otherwise have had to pay to have it picked up.

I was thinking that cities and localities that had more stringent laws about simply dumping the WVO caused the growth of commercial collectors, who would seek to lock up every restaurant along any given route to maximize their collection per mile driven.

Of course, that's what I was hoping for in this thread, to get a better idea of the feasibility in different areas and circumstances.

I have just started collecting. I have one restraunt and a bowling alley I am picking up from right now. I have 50 gallons in the garage and am going to start setting up the processor this weekend. I have found that even convient stores are willing to let you get their WVO. They are more likely to give it to you if they don't carry diesel.

http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/appleseedprocessor/

this is a very helpful website. I have also found a guy locally that is making it. He really helped. People that are making bio are usually very helpful in getting you set up and taking the time to help people get into it.

I have suggested an alternative fuel subforum. Let keep bugging them and see if we can get one seperate this subforum!!

I just started looking for WVO yesterday and already hooked up with three places. It may not be 100's of gallons a week but so far so good on scoring.

Don't forget your local schools,,, Jr and high schools have fryers too! I'm having a hard time with my local school district,, as they are paying someone now,, and I don't think they want to break contract even thought I drive bus for them, and I will get it for free!!! I'm working on it,, also, might try your local supermarket,, if they have a deli,, then they might just fry up chicken and wings and such. I too need to get 2 more sources,, Ive been collecting for a month or so and just started,, I've done 2 batches,and I'm going thru my oil fast. Truck is quieter and smells funny

Don't forget your local schools,,, Jr and high schools have fryers too! I'm having a hard time with my local school district,, as they are paying someone now,, and I don't think they want to break contract even thought I drive bus for them, and I will get it for free!!! I'm working on it,, also, might try your local supermarket,, if they have a deli,, then they might just fry up chicken and wings and such. I too need to get 2 more sources,, Ive been collecting for a month or so and just started,, I've done 2 batches,and I'm going thru my oil fast. Truck is quieter and smells funny


your quite the lucky guy. Just find out when their contract runs out and bid a lower price to pick up then the other guys. I am a teacher in tx at a small school district, 500 students in the high school. My mother is the director of cafeterias for the district, but in TX schools aren't allowed to fry anymore, so no vegie oil for me!!:rules:

your quite the lucky guy...
From the poll results so far, it sort of looks like anyone who finds a new source of free usable waste vegetable oil is lucky...

Of those who managed to locate a source of waste vegetable oil recently, did you have any luck with calling around, or was it always necessary to schmooze the restaurant owner face to face to even get them to consider it?

I assume most restaurant owners/managers probably aren't going to agree on the phone to let you have their WVO, but I'm trying to see how useful calling around was.

Of those who managed to locate a source of waste vegetable oil recently, did you have any luck with calling around, or was it always necessary to schmooze the restaurant owner face to face to even get them to consider it?

I assume most restaurant owners/managers probably aren't going to agree on the phone to let you have their WVO, but I'm trying to see how useful calling around was.

Calling only seemed to work for me if I already had an in. Like if a friend of mine knew the manager I would say that they suggested I call. All the others I just stopped by.

I have always found it best to knock on the back of the door, ask nicely to speak with manager, ask for X quantity (gallons) of used oil, and 85% of the time they say yes.

Before you ask, look at the oil, if it is filthy disgusting (white, or not liquidous), DON:T WASTE YOUR TIME.

only ask to collect good oil, bad oil is a waste of time or chemicals with filtration.water removal.KOH costs(if your making biodiesel)

I live in SW corner of VA and have been using WVO as fuel for many years. also been making biodiesel for 2 years and have extra processor for sale

Chris