How to find WVO

Finding a source of WVO

Some feel that finding a source is the first thing you should do, even before purchasing a vehicle. I believe it can happen concurrently, working on you WVO source as you are working on your vehicle and filtering setup. I waited until the last minute to find WVO. It was motivation for me to get out there and hustle up some grease b/c I was burning diesel when I had a WVO system installed. It does take time, time to setup accounts, know where to look and put the word out there that you need oil. So start securing your WVO source as soon as possible.

Note: There are legal concerns when collecting and transporting WVO. These vary by state.

It is NOT advisable to simply go in back of a restaurant and take oil from the Grease bin. The bin may be property of a rendering company, so you would be stealing. Otherwise, someone else might have a claim on the grease. It is very important that you ask the owner or management of the restaurant if you can take some of their oil. Most restaurants see the grease as garbage and are fine with you taking it away. Before you ask, check the oil and make sure it is nice and there is enough.

WVO Collection/Rendering = Big Business

Large vegetable oil renderers have capitalized on the bulk price of oil and are putting a stranglehold on the collection of waste vegetable oil. The companies now offer free collection to restaurants and get them locked into a contract. Some rendering companies will even pay for the oil. In some Western towns, the grease collecting for hundreds of miles has been monopolized by one company. And, local governments are now getting in on the grease collection. In San Francisco, it is a battle for grease between Big rendering companies, local governments and individual collectors. In my experience, the grease renderers have been highly un-cooperative when approached by WVOers.

That being said, you can still find oil. You just have to be crafty and resourceful in the towns where there is competition. I have had luck posting ads on craigslist. Also, I make it a point to connect with the management at my favorite restaurants. They are typically happy to support your cause if you are supporting theirs. If a restaurant already has a collection service that is free or pays, you may have success offering a free pressure wash of the parking lot, cleaning of grease trap, or even xx cents per gallon collected. Tell them you are local and will be a customer at their restaurant. Additionally, provide some marketing for the restaurant - offer to hand out fliers, tell your friends or even put a small sign on your vehicle. This is a golden ticket as most restaurants are slow in these economic times. Remember, make sure the oil is quality before you offer anything!

And when you find the quality WVO and have weaseled your way into collecting it, get a contract. It is a safeguard that your oil source will not be poached by a rendering company. You may need to provide collection containers, like barrels, if the restaurant does not own one. If they have one, make sure it is not property of the rendering company.

Also, keep records of how much oil you collect from each facility so that there is record that the facility is disposing of their oil properly.