Holden’s Bill to Fight Grease Thieves Heads to Senate Floor – AB 1566

Assemblymember Chris Holden’s bill (D-Pasadena) to combat the growing problem of kitchen grease theft has been overwhelmingly approved in Senate Appropriations and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote.

“Restaurants are finding that their used kitchen grease is a hot commodity that has sparked grease wars in a battle over who can cash in on the ‘liquid gold’ that is then converted into biodiesel fuel,” explained Assemblymember Holden. “It’s like the Wild West out there, everybody’s fighting over it and we need to get a better handle on regulations.”

AB 1566 gives law enforcement the tools they need to stop these modern-day oil rustlers by beefing up requirements for licensed haulers, increasing the penalties for stealing grease and allowing law enforcement to impound vehicles for up to 15 days.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, a typical fast-food restaurant produces 150-250 pounds of grease a week and a fully loaded pumper truck could bring in as much as $900 at a recycling center. Thieves often strike in the night and syphon off the used grease and sell it on the black market.