Keith mentioned something that I think needs to be emphisized is that the
collection rates for WVO is rather low, and within that low collection
percentage only a certain amount is actually recycled into something
valuable. Thus although the big FF chains might do a BD venture
themselves (more as a greenwash campaingn) or work with some large BD
processors (for a commodity fee), on the whole there is a zillion small
hole-in-the-wall resturantes that will work with a homebrewer/small
producer for free removal of the WVO. I personally know of many.
;-)
Also, remember that the focus for the large processor is time == money, so
that the faster they can process and get a vialable product without having
to jump through too many hoops, that is the dirction they will go.
Paying for SVO for them makes the process go smoother without all the
titration hassle, and with a consistant feedstock it also insures a
consistant fuel. And consistancy is a good marketing tool ("With OUR fuel
you won't have to worry about damage to your engine" ....) Both of those
areas are time and money issues. For the homebrewer time/money issue are a
moot point as it is more a hobbie thing. And for the small producer Keith
mentioned that local collection and production will beat out long distance
distrubution in price, even if the economics of scale are better for the
large producer.
James Slayden
On Wed, 27 Nov 2002, Keith Addison wrote:
> >Hello;
> >
> >Good point about third world...
> >
> >I can see the time when bio diesel will be marketed as
> >a 'super' fuel and will priced accordingly--simple
> >marketing dynamics. The only ones who will be able to
> >afford it will be the very poor through aid programs
> >or the well-to-do.
> >
> >I base this on my belief that raw fuel stocks such as
> >WVO will become commodities-especially by the bigger
> >chains McDonald'scDonalds-that can improve the
> >profitability of restaurants.
> >
> >Oil is big business and when its demise comes bio
> >diesel will be big business. My advise to the small
> >producers is enjoy the present and be prepared to be
> >eaten by the sharks( via buy outs or other less
> >pleasant means).
> >
> >Best Regards
> >
> >Alex Landels
>
> Lots been written here about the potential of local-niche production
> and much besides. There are many local-type scenarios where the big
> guys won't be able to compete, not just on a price basis, there are
> often other factors at work. Growth in at least some of these areas
> is already quite rapid. On-farm production, especially from
> integrated farms rather than monocroppers, is another such case, also
> growing rapidly. Costs can be essentially zero, and direct costs
> aside, on-farm economics will tend to keep outside stuff outside, no
> benefit.
>
> It doesn't just depend on WVO availability, though that's a few
> billion gallons a year in the US. In most industrialized countries
> collection levels are about 10%. It's unlikely to be optimized, no
> matter how valuable it gets or how much the Big Guys might be after
> it, unless collection starts at the local level, at point of
> production. This applies to virtually all waste recycling. And it
> leaves plenty of scope for small-scale operators and DIYers who're
> also working at that level. Take a closer look at some of the things
> in Mark's post about local-level initiatives.
>
> Much also been written about Big Biodiesel, and people expecting to
> be brushed aside when the time comes. There could already be too much
> local stuff going on for that to happen quite so easily. If the
> sharks come too close they could get torn to pieces by piranhas.
>
> For a comparison, local farmers' markets and CSAs are growing apace,
> and there's absolutely nothing that big agribiz interests can do
> about it, much as I'm sure they'd like to. The USDA organic standards
> a few posts have mentioned were such an attempt, but very many real
> organic farms have simply opted out and continue dealing with their
> local markets without any problems. This is also capitalism at work,
> you know - more so than big, centralized corporatism is, and it's
> more American anyway.
>
> Best
>
> Keith
>
>
>
>
>
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