Thieves operate all over Germany, both at night and in broad daylight. Their methods vary: some enter restaurant backyards and pump the fat into their own containers, while others simply steal the entire bin. The reason is simple: this waste can be sold to companies that specialise in recycling, and then resold to biodiesel producers. Up to €900 can be made from 1,000 kilograms of recycled fat.
But legitimate businesses are under threat. Stefan Hennig, owner of a waste disposal company in Rhineland-Palatinate, reports that his workers, who collect containers of old grease, register two to three thefts every day. The annual loss of his company, with only 18 employees, is around €40,000 — a figure that could jeopardise its future.
According to BDE, thefts have sharply increased since 2022. In 2023 alone, over 7,000 cases were registered nationwide. The stolen product is believed to be sold for cash, mainly to the Netherlands, and investigations rarely lead to arrests.