How to Ask for Waste Oil

In this era of high diesel prices, an ever increasing number of people are using spent fry oil to fuel their diesel vehicles. And why not? It seems like a dream-come-true: Taking other people's garbage off their hands for the purpose of fueling your vehicle. You get free fuel, and you reduce their waste output. Converting your diesel vehicle to fry-oil is simple, and, in some areas, unnecessary. You just need to make sure that you live in a region where the oil stays liquid at all times. If you are in a colder climate, you may need to install a tank heater to keep your fuel in liquid form. The problem is that this form of free fuel is becoming more and more popular as time goes by, so, unless you work in a kitchen with a very active Fryalator, you may need to approach your request with a degree of grace. Here are some suggestions.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 5-gallon Buckets

1. You need a constant supply of spent fryer oil or Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO), so choose your sources carefully. Most modern kitchens have a Fryalator station, so your market is wide. If you go to the local Kentucky Fried Chicken, where they produce the volume of their food out of the fryers, you will find that they do have a volume of fry oil available, but that you may be in line behind ten other diesel truck owners, because KFC is such an obvious choice. Consider the local hamburger stand -- the fry oil does not need changing as often as KFC, but maybe fewer people have thought of it. The local fish and chips restaurant is another obvious choice. Also, try steakhouses, casual dining restaurants and fine dining establishments; they all have fryers, and they probably change the oil once or twice per week. Additionally, you will need several sources for your oil, as a typical commercial fryer will take only 2.5 to 5 gallons of oil per fill, and the typical truck with two tanks will hold around 48 gallons.

2. Approach the manager of the restaurant in a friendly and polite manner. Remember, he is doing you a favor, but, at the same time, you are doing him a favor as well, so approach it as a mutually beneficial relationship you would like to enter. Do not be discouraged if the manager wants you to talk to the kitchen manager or chef or even to the owner of the restaurant to work out the deal. The best place to start, however, is with the manager.

3. In some areas where biodiesel is very popular, you will find some restaurants are selling their WVO. Do not be surprised or outraged at this practice. The restaurant business has high expenses and minimal profits in most cases, and the manager is doing her best to improve the bottom line. If the price that the restaurant is asking is too high for your budget, thank them and inform them that you would like to look elsewhere at this time, but that you may be back. Part company graciously and with a handshake -- remember, you do not want to burn this bridge behind you, as you may find that they are offering the best deal in town.

4. Arrange to transport the WVO with minimal impact to the restaurant. For this purpose, get several five-gallon buckets with lids, available at the local hardware or home improvement store. The restaurant probably puts their WVO back into the plastic jugs that it came in -- if the staff will hand you the jugs, graciously accept them and filter your oil when you get home. If the oil is in a container that the restaurant wants to keep, transfer it to your own buckets, seal them up and be on your way.

5. Remember your manners. Again, you are requesting a favor from the restaurateurs in your area, and they are people with whom you will want to maintain an ongoing relationship in order to keep your truck fueled. So, to that end, if the restaurant has the facility for it, rinse out the oil buckets and bend over backwards to make the transaction as friendly as possible to all parties involved.

Resources

• The Fry Guys