Thread: Home Brew Bio-diesel a no-no?

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

in the latest RACQ The Road Ahead magazine there is a warning from the QLD Fire and Rescue that they will confiscate Bio-diesel production equipment if found.


"QFRS believes home production breaches several laws and presents an unacceptable risk to the operator, their community and emergency personnel"

I have heard of this earlier. I don't know how well based it is, but I would think that any laws broken would relate to storage of inflammable liquids, notably methanol, in a suburban area. Can't see it being a problem in a rural setting, and also can't see a problem if you are merely filtering vegetable oil.

On a similar subject it is now seven months since I wrote to my federal member (who is a government member) asking why they treat excise on home brew biodiesel less favourably than on home brew beer (this came in with last year's budget). I am still waiting on a reply - I got an initial reply after three months, but it didn't answer the question, it just gave a detailed description of the regulations.

John

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

in the latest RACQ The Road Ahead magazine there is a warning from the QLD Fire and Rescue that they will confiscate Bio-diesel production equipment if found.


"QFRS believes home production breaches several laws and presents an unacceptable risk to the operator, their community and emergency personnel"

It would be interesting to know whether they actually have the "legal power" to confiscate this equipment.


Martyn

Originally Posted by Bushie

It would be interesting to know whether they actually have the "legal power" to confiscate this equipment.

My thoughts, too.

Ron

If your stupid or tight enough to make your own moonshine, then put it into your vehicles can you really winge if you blow youself up.

A mate of mine's father was making his own bio-diesel in the SW suburbs of Brisbane. He had a long running dispute with a neighbour who dobbed him into police thinking he was making illedal drugs in his shed. The police came and then got the EPA involved due to the large amount of flammable liquids in a residential area.

No charges and no confiscations that I know of. Just a warning to get rid of it and shut it down.

The amount of flammable liquid that is allowed to be stored on residential premises is surprisingly low. I haven't looked at the legislation for WA but years ago there was newspaper report which said storing more than 20 litres of petrol was illegal.
Most of us probably have well over 20 litres of flammable liquids in the shed, when you consider oils, turps, thinners, fuel for lawnmower/chainsaw etc.

Originally Posted by chazza

The amount of flammable liquid that is allowed to be stored on residential premises is surprisingly low. I haven't looked at the legislation for WA but years ago there was newspaper report which said storing more than 20 litres of petrol was illegal.
Most of us probably have well over 20 litres of flammable liquids in the shed, when you consider oils, turps, thinners, fuel for lawnmower/chainsaw etc.

I suspect the amount you are legally allowed to store in suburbia is very low as you say, and is one of those laws that are very frequently ignored - and mostly not enforced (unless the neighbours complain).

How many of you know (have any idea) how much you can legally store? And which fluids are included? And whether you are legal (or care)?

John

How can they enforce a 20L law?

The average car has a 45L- 75L tank on it
A BBQ cyclinder has an average size of 9L
5L - 20L jerry cans?
Alcohol in 750ml bottles?
etc......