Stealing Your Waste Oil

Posted on June 26th, 2008 by Zach.
Categories: General, Sustainability, Systems of the World.

Can someone tell me if this is a good or bad thing?
There has been a rise in the theft of old cooking oil from restaurants according to the New York Times piece of a little while ago. So this is where we’re at is it – The stealing of waste stream material?

This is one of those times when the glass is half full or half empty. You know, those tests that are supposed to tell you whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist depending upon how you view a situation?

A pessimist would look at this filet-o-fish filled oil theft as disasterous. Fuel prices are rising at epic proportion making the waste stream oil look like a good option for fuel. They would say a dark storm approaches – home heating oil is astoundingly expensive and this kind of theft of basic materials is only the beginning of a downward spiral for the country. Fire and brimstone I tell ya.

An optimist sees the better angels of the situation. Imagine that, a waste stream being so coveted that it is even WORTH stealing. That hasn’t happened in a long, long time in this country. Not since one of the lesser known Adams brothers – not John Quincy – was indicted in that great cow manure scandal of the early 1800’s.

No, an optimist would say that rising fuel costs will force us to address unsustainable approaches to everyday life. That it is past time we dealt with these sorts of systems. That this is the rise of small cars, mass transit, and a return to local economies.

And really, who doesn’t want al of those things, I know I do. But big transitions hit people with the least amount of financial stability first, and that makes this transition pretty scary for many.

So I guess I am splitting the distance? Short term pain that is ultimately good for as all.

What we need is good leadership, that people believe in, and that can usher the country through the pain that is coming. Enough bickering, big things are happening around us – do I really care about this political “gotcha” crap that the campaigns are playing.

One other note:  Let me know when people start stealing the Dunkin Donuts oil to restrain and cook with. That’s when you know we are in serious trouble and it is time to fortify the house World War Z style.
Until then, it is time for all of us to put in some work.

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