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The theft of waste cooking oil from food outlets has become a 'growing problem' in the United Kingdom, according to recycling firm Quatra. The company highlighted that used oil has evolved into a valuable raw material essential for the production of biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Criminals are reportedly employing sophisticated tactics, including using false identification to pose as Quatra employees to facilitate illegal collections.
Ryan Harrison, a fish and chip shop owner in Oxfordshire, reported significant financial impact from repeated thefts, noting a loss of 30p to 50p per litre of oil. CCTV footage from his business on 6 July showed two individuals in high-visibility vests operating an unmarked van. Harrison described the thieves as an 'organised gang' that follows collection vans and monitors drop-off times to strike effectively. He has since provided vehicle registration details to the Thames Valley Police, who confirmed that investigations into the Botley theft are ongoing.
Law enforcement activity across the country reflects the scale of the issue. Staffordshire Police recently intercepted a van loaded with cooking oil on the M6, linking it to a burglary committed weeks prior. Similar incidents were reported at the Swan Hotel in Alresford, Hampshire, and in St Albans, Hertfordshire, where two men were arrested after police discovered waste oil in a van leaving a pub.
UK government statistics reveal that approximately 70% of the nation's biodiesel is manufactured from used cooking oil. According to the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), these thefts result in an estimated annual loss of £25 million to the UK Treasury in unpaid duty. Despite the economic impact, both the NBCC and the National Police Chiefs' Council informed the BBC that they do not currently maintain specific statistical data on the frequency of cooking oil thefts.
Source: BBC