Sep 30 2008

Nothing Sacred

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall

In the old days, kitchen grease was a messy waste product that unscrupulous restaurant owners dumped illegally to avoid disposal fees. In today's greener age, this leftover sludge has instead become a valuable target of thieves who reportedly convert it into clean biodiesel at a cost of less than $1 per gallon. That's progress for you.

On Friday, Governor Schwarzenegger of California addressed that problem by signing into law a bill that will slash fees imposed on individuals who collect and recycle fryer grease for their personal use as a substitute for diesel fuel.

The law, sponsored by Good Earth Grease Haulers in Monrovia, aims to support biodiesel production by cutting vehicle transport fees from $400 to $75. In theory it will also discourage the stealing of oil by getting more haulers to register with the authorities.

Now if we could only lick the problem of thieves who rip off solar panels from rooftops and then resell them on eBay. Is nothing sacred?

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