Anyone collecting waste vegetable oil and processing it into biodiesel should be aware that technically they are required to have a waste collection permit.
You can download the relevant act and regulations from www.irishstatutebook.ie .
Im not a lawyer but I have studied these documents closely and want to share a couple of nuggets with other small scale biodiesel brewers.
There seems to be two separate issues, Transport of waste oil ( ie collection) and processing.

The transport issue is simple. to quote the regulations
" ...the act shall not apply...to the transport of waste ...where the waste is transported in or on a vehicle which has a laden axleweight of less than one tonne..."

That is pretty clear that if you collect waste oil in your car or a car and trailer you are not breaking the law.

The second issue, processing of waste veg oil is more complicated.
A permit is required and an application costs 380 euro but, and I quote,

"..a.local authority shall have absolute discretion to refund or waive all or part of the fee payable in respect of a particular application where it is satisfied that the payment in full of the fee would not be just and reasonable having regard to the limited scale or nature of the activity concerned."

That would seem to apply to small biodiesel brewers.

So my interpretation of the regs is that collecting oil from restuarants is legal but you require a permit to process it. However the local authority should not charge for a permit where it is just an individual making biodiesel for his or her own use.

Anybody else have views on this?

The law is an ass but
We all know or should know it’s how the law is interpreted; is what matters; and how good your solicitor is
There are enough tribunal to prove this
However I don’t see any real problems; if you are collecting waste vegetable oil; that would have ended up in a landfill; if you are not charging for service’ and pay the vat’ on the fuel that you do make .
Provided you don’t make a complete nucence of yourself you should be ok
The worst thing that can happen’ is that you a forced to stop making bio diesel; if this happen join the green party and try again

The law is an ass, no doubt. This particular law was introduced to prevent large scale dumping of waste and has probably worked to regulate the big companies. The problem is that the big companies only collect 60% of the waste veg oil in Ireland. The other 40% is still unregulated and people like us have to operate in a grey legal area. I think its always better to be forarmed with a knowledge of the law in case of trouble.

Im holding a biodiesel demonstration this weekend, my usual 150 litre batch. The lard burning stove will be running but wrap up well.
My recovery still will be processing glycerol byproduct. The bioethanol project, which is progressing even better than I had hoped will be on show for the first time. All are welcome, no charge, coffee and biscuits supplied.
Starts 9.30am Saturday 6th Dec. at the Railway station, Lismore Co waterford. Phone 0863169230 for directions

Last biodiesel demonstration of the year at the Railway Station Lismore on Sat 20th Dec at 9.30 am. I will be unveiling my central heating boiler that runs on yellow grease. All welcome phone 086 3169230 for directions.

I came across the subject of waste colection permits today when when I was looking at the frylite site and decided to see how we stand in Northen Ireland.

Business operaters need to register as waste carriers,the info is HERE

It goes into the details about it here(Statutory Rule 1999 No. 362)

But according to the rules even a gardeners should have one !

However these rules are geared up for commercial business shouldn't think they apply to domestic use

I might write to them and ask them were I stand.

waste oil sould'nt be a problem....because on the reverse...if you need to bring waste oil...ie engine oil..veg oil etc....to your local recycling centre you would need a permit...

who would bother if that was the case?

yes I dont think it should apply to us carrying some waste oil home for domestic use.

what got me onto this subject was the fry-lite site,which seems (in my opinion)to use theses permits as a selling tool and describe them as a'legal requirement' to encourage restaurants to stay on the legal side of waste oil collection.

The only way it might affect us is if the restaurant/hotel stars to ask for a some sort of receipt.
The hotel I was at the other day said that they get some sort of waste collection note from whoever collects the oil to keep it in case of environmental health checks.
But the manageress was still more than helpful and said I could have some,she even asked the kitchen porter to put some aside in a cubie for me! she was obviously over come by my good looks and charm