Grease Thefts Up as Biodiesel Gains Traction in Northern California Restaurants
MONTEREY, CA – Hidden behind many Northern California restaurants, tanks of used deep-fryer grease have become like pots of gold for thieves looking to cash in on a spike in demand for biodiesel.
MONTEREY, CA – Hidden behind many Northern California restaurants, tanks of used deep-fryer grease have become like pots of gold for thieves looking to cash in on a spike in demand for biodiesel. And drivers for a Northern California rendering plant who rely on the grease for their livelihoods said such thefts have become a pain in recent months, according to www.montereyherald.com.
The grease is recycled at Chico-based North State Rendering to be sold for fuel and as a supplement for livestock feed. North State Rendering’s drivers collect grease from restaurants as far away as southern Oregon in the north and Sacramento to the south.
Demand has spiked in recent months, thanks to the biodiesel demand. But, a jump in thefts followed. Using motorized suction pumps and tanks in the back of pickups, the thieves take about 50,000 pounds of the grease each month, which costs the company about $15,000.
The company files police reports, but arrests are rare.
More Operations
ENC Unveils its ZAVIR Medium-Duty Shuttle
Two variants of the concept shuttles were revealed: a low-floor configuration and a high-floor configuration.
Read More →
Could Your Next Fleet Technician Start as an Intern?
What if your next technician hasn’t worked in a fleet shop yet? What fleets are doing to free up time.
Read More →
How Phoenix Is Building Its Next Generation of Fleet Technicians
With more than 8,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment to maintain, the City of Phoenix could not afford to wait for fully trained technicians to walk through the door. Instead, they revamped their entire workforce strategy and showed how public fleets can create their own talent pipeline while preparing existing employees for increasingly complex vehicles.
Read More →
What’s Slowing Your Fleet Down?
Could a change in how work gets done help your fleet return vehicles to service sooner?
Read More →
Can Public Fleets Trust the Data Driving Their Decisions?
Public fleets have more data than ever, but inconsistent records and missing information can still undermine maintenance, replacement, and cost decisions.
Read More →
John Deere Introduces 40 P-Tier Compact Excavator
John Deere is adding a compact excavator designed for crews that need to move equipment between jobsites and handle multiple types of work with one machine. The 40 P-Tier weighs less than 10,000 pounds and offers configurable hydraulics, attachment options, and connected fleet-management capabilities.
Read More →
How Leading Fleets Improve and Why Business Plans Matter
This week, we look at what past Leading Fleet winners can teach us about making progress, plus how to build a business plan your fleet will actually use.
Read More →
Nominate a Fleet Leader for the 2027 Public Fleet Hall of Fame
Do you know a fleet leader who has made a lasting impact on the industry? Nominate this fleet professional for the 2027 Public Fleet Hall of Fame.
Read More →
Why Fleet Business Plans Need Three Perspectives
A fleet business plan should help agency leaders understand the fleet’s value, give the organization a clear direction, and establish shared expectations with customer departments.
Read More →
How Oil Analysis, Safety Technology, and Fleet Awards Drive Improvement
What happens when fleets let measured results guide their next decision?
Read More →