Paving the Way for Brown Grease Use in the Northwest

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1 Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center practical solutions for economic and environmental vitality Paving the Way for Brown Grease Use in the Northwest 2009 Western U.S. Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Conference October 28, 2009

2 Northwest Update PPRC s three stage involvement Oregon s Preferred Pumper Program Puget Sound Working Group

3 PPRC Established in 1990 as an alternative to building new hazardous waste disposal sites in the region Serve EPA Region 10 (WA, OR, ID and AK) Provide pollution prevention (P2) information resources, research and networking Support for Technical Service Providers in federal, state and local government and industry Partner with agencies, businesses and non-profits on a wide variety of projects

4 Can Brown Grease be used as a feed stock for biodiesel in the Puget Sound?? January 11, 2007 Could brown/trap grease be taken out of the waste stream and used by biodiesel manufactures as a feedstock?? Are there any cases where biodiesel producers have used waste grease as feedstock? Are there any studies about this? Would the use of grease be more expensive for biodiesel producers? If there is an interest among local producers, would there be any issues with: 1) the regular quantity of grease generated 2) the "quality" of the grease? How many types of waste grease are there?

5 Initial Findings NREL estimates total U.S. trap grease at about 495 million gallons per year. Climate Solutions estimates that there are 9 million gallons of waste grease and oil in Western Washington (about 5 million gallons of waste grease) Pumped, transported, processed and landfilled Energy estimates between 6,000 and 12,000 Btus per pound Case studies available, including: San Francisco Greasecycle Philadelphia Fry-O-Diesel (Black Gold) On to the Stakeholder meeting!

6 Stakeholder Meeting in Vancouver P2 Results Task Force October, 2008 Sponsored by EPA, Clean Water Services and WREC Center Objective: Present examples of existing technologies currently producing fuel from brown grease Biodiesel Methane- anaerobic digestion To develop an understanding of how each stakeholder group could be a successful participant in the productive use of brown grease To develop a Roadmap for this region.

7 Brown Grease is a problem for everyone: Restaurants Expensive Don t know if pumpers are doing a good job Part time temp staff may not track when to pump Overflows, clogged pipes

8 Pumpers Hauling brown grease is often a loss leader to get other profitable business Nasty and unpleasant

9 Municipalities Municipal heart attack or stroke that causes SSO s or CSO s

10 State and Local Policy Makers Contradictory regulations among a variety of agencies doesn t make it easy Source Control POTWs Health Department Fire Marshal

11 Restaurants Barriers Cost Mistrust of some pumpers Not their main business concern Opportunities Reduced costs? Better service? Working with preferred pumpers?

12 Pumpers Barriers Cost effectiveness (restaurants, processing facilities) Education (of restaurants, pumpers, employees) Lack of facilities to take it to (need local) No market value yet How to capture (grease traps/interceptors are not the best way to capture) Opportunities Special equipment to catch grease-less cleanings, less processing, less trips Truckers-separators on trucks FOG PPP Program-will help program, get more to participate More and better equipment $ savings at POTW

13 POTW s Barriers Competing with private sector How much is availablecompetition for this in future Wastewater processing at biodiesel facility needs to be considered Access to capital Opportunities $ to be made POTWs that process need to be accessible/convenient. Quick paybacks Could become energy independent (IC engines, digesters) Use incentive programs that exist (Energy Trust, tax credits)

14 Vancouver Stakeholder Meeting Roadmap Need a Life Cycle Analysis! Compare digesters to produce methane, biodiesel, or incineration? Need an assessment of how much brown grease there really is out there. What is the real cost/savings to the utility in avoiding brown grease? Business plan: Involve buyers and sellers. Set up long term investment structure and market development. (example: I want to buy from you, it needs to be in this condition, delivered to this place, etc) On to the Seattle Brown Grease Symposium!

15 Brown Grease Symposium in Seattle April 15 th 2009 Join us Wednesday April 15th for the first Puget Sound Brown Grease Symposium Dear Joan, Brown grease is generated by food preparation and collects in grease traps and interceptors until it is removed and taken to renderers or landfills for disposal. Is brown grease just a nasty waste stream or could it be a valuable energy source? The Puget Sound Brown Grease Symposium gathers stakeholders to discuss: how brown grease can be better managed and potentially used as feedstock for biodiesel brown grease use as a boost to methane production in wastewater treatment plants, and how preferred pumper programs can facilitate the productive use of brown grease. We welcome all stakeholders to participate in this exciting and topical event. The Symposium will be held April 15, 2009, from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Seattle Center Alki Room (part of the Northwest Rooms). To learn more, visit Don't miss out, Register Now! Seattle Public Utilities is graciously sponsoring this event. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Please forward this to others you believe would be interested in this issue.

16 Seattle Symposium Roadmap Consistent permitting and government regulations. Agree to definition of biodiesel and how it will be treated. State guidance on biodiesel issue. Rules are vague and inconsistent, even within agencies (NFPA has a standard code for POTWs, maybe this needs to be done for biodiesel plants). Suggestion for Biodiesel Association to cover Brown Grease at a regional meeting. Look at Ohio DEQ s guidelines for biodiesel industry. Need policy that landfills can t accept brown grease, and a study on the possibilities and consequences of implementing this policy. On to IRAC Working Group! Interagency Resource for Achieving Cooperation

17 Puget Sound (IRAC) Working Group Dedicated group of agencies wrestling with the issue since May 09 Focus is initial part of the problem How to get regular, reliable collection? How much grease is there? Understanding existing regs and conditions Is there existing capacity for all they could collect? Preferred Pumper Programs Manifest Systems a la Hazardous Waste that collects info about when/how much hauled/where it goes Combo Systems like Pinellas County Florida- wildly successful Will incorporate other stakeholders later.

18 Oregon s Preferred Pumper s Program For grease trap/interceptor pump-out companies that meet certain criteria established by regional municipalities. Standardized procedures increase the likelihood that grease traps/interceptors are cleaned correctly, and reduce fats, oils and grease (FOG) in sewer system. Pumpers certify that they will follow pump-out criteria. Commercial/institutional FOG-generators in the region are encouraged to use a preferred pumper. Owners of grease traps/interceptors using a registered preferred pumper know that pump-outs should be completed correctly. Pumper assumes responsibility for submitting Pump-Out Reports. Inspections will focus on pumpers performance in maintaining traps/interceptors.

19 Thanks for your time! Contact us at: 1402 Third Ave, Suite 1420 Seattle, WA T Debra Taevs Deputy Director dtaevs@pprc.org Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center practical solutions for economic and environmental vitality