Criminal conspiracy to steal used cooking oil shows how trash can become treasure

On September 14, 2026, federal prosecutors unveiled an interstate criminal enterprise resembling organized crime, involving 19 defendants who allegedly stole used cooking oil from restaurants across 10 states. The group allegedly transported the stolen oil to depots for resale, driven by the fact that used cooking oil can be refined into biodiesel, a valuable resource.

This case highlights the potential for waste, often viewed as trash, to be transformed into valuable commodities. Historians, anthropologists, and geographers increasingly recognize that waste is a human-defined category, shaped by technologies, markets, laws, and cultural assumptions. Just as nature reuses waste materials, human societies can convert waste into valuable resources.

For example, whey, a byproduct of cheesemaking, was once discarded but can now be processed into protein concentrates. Similarly, coal fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, can replace some cement in concrete production. In the 19th century, cotton growers considered cottonseed an unwanted byproduct but later discovered its value in oil production, fertilizer, and animal feed.

Despite these transformations, waste can still contribute to environmental problems if not managed properly. In the 20th century, hydrogenation processes turned vegetable oils into semi-solid fats used in margarine, leading to the creation of artificial trans fats, which are now linked to health issues.