Used cooking oil theft was in the range of $300 million to $500 million in 2025
BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Buffalo Biodiesel is urging its approximately 30,000 restaurant customers in western New York and the Northeast to be vigilant in monitoring their premises to prevent the theft of used cooking which is used to produce low carbon biodiesel.
“Cooking oil theft nationally has become a big problem and there is a sophisticated and growing illegal black marketplace that is threatening the biodiesel sector,” said Ryan Haggerty, Buffalo Biodiesel chief state litigator and general counsel. “Restaurants in general are an easy target because used cooking oil is stored in bins that are usually outside in areas with no surveillance or lighting.”
The outreach by Buffalo Biodiesel to customers follows a recent warning in July issued by the New York State Police in Central New York where suspects were arrested for siphoning used cooking oil from various establishments.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York announced on August 22nd that an individual pleaded guilty to stealing 45,000 pounds of used cooking oil to sell to a refinery in Erie, PA and on September 1st another individual pleaded guilty after approximately $140,000 in cash, a handgun, and approximately 12k gallons of stolen used cooking oil was seized by law enforcement.
According to the North American Renderers Association (NARA), the estimated total of used cooking oil theft in the United States was between $300 million to $500 million in 2025. Hundreds of thefts from Buffalo Biodiesel customer’s establishments have occurred in the last couple of years and that number is trending upward.
“Profit margins are extremely tight in the restaurant business so investing in surveillance equipment and lighting and building out more secure locations on premise can be a deterrent to owners and operators,” Haggerty continued. “At the same time, selling used cooking oil is a profit center for many establishments and making these security enhancements can be a good investment to thwart criminals from stealing a product that is in extremely strong demand.”
About Buffalo Biodiesel – Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo Biodiesel collects and processes used cooking oil from more than 30,000 restaurants across the Northeast, converting the material into renewable energy products and advanced carbon materials.
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SOURCE Buffalo Biodiesel
