What happens to edible fats from the US restaurants?

The increase in price for fuel in the US has caused more cases of theft of edible fats and oils from fast food restaurants.
The waste oil was then sent to producers of biodiesel or was used to make biofuel at home.
Until recently the restaurants hired a wagon to export the oil but the government decided to support biological sector and now it buys raw material paying 3 dollars per 4 liters of used oil.
The cases of theft occur in many states, including Missouri, California and Virginia. The police react differently to it. Sometimes the criminals had to pay a fine. Some thieves were less fortunate: they were arrested, accused of stealing equipment to further sale it.