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Biofuel Program Is Cooking

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: November 29, 2008

Straight from the kitchens of area homes, recycled cooking oil is powering a few Pasco County vehicles.

"Cooking oil has been used in animal feed and in the manufacturing of cosmetics for decades," said Farouk M. El-Shamy, environmental manager for Pasco County Utilities Services.

"It can also be used as fuel," El-Shamy said.

So the county hired a Pinellas County recycling company that converts oil into biodiesel and shares about 20 percent of the fuel refined from the cooking oil with the county, he said.

So far, the county has enough biodiesel to power a large truck and a tractor.

"As the program grows and matures we will get more biodiesel and we can run more county vehicles on biodiesel," El-Shamy said. The three-year pilot program is entering its second year, he said.

"This is the best way to manage our cooking oil," El-Shamy said. Otherwise, the household grease might find its way down drains of kitchen sinks and then slow or even clog county sewers.

The county started with its own drop-off sites where people can dispose of their household cooking oil free of charge.

The trend, however, is to place collection tanks in area subdivisions to increase residents' access to the recycling program.

"We decided to go to the people instead of having the people come to us," El-Shamy said.

Heritage Pines, on County Line Road just south of Hernando County, was the first west Pasco subdivision to agree to set one of the tanks near trash bins for the convenience of environmentally minded residents.

Lake Bernadette, a golf course community near Zephyrhills, is part of the program as well. The county is negotiating with two other subdivisions to set out disposal tanks.

"At the present time we generate about 100 to 150 gallons of cooking oil a month," El-Shamy said. "My goal far exceeds that, however."

Nationwide, 40 percent of sewer clogs are attributed to fat, oil and grease, El-Shamy said. When oil is poured down a household drain, it jells and builds up around the interior of sewer pipes.

"Over time, grease builds up and blocks the entire pipe," El-Shamy said. "In this case sewage flows through the manhole covers into streets, homes, buildings, offices and businesses.

"This not only has potential health risks, but also it has become a revenue drain on our county utilities in the form of infrastructure repairs and drain to your pocketbook as well when you are affected. Somebody has to pay."

The three county disposal sites for cooking oil in west Pasco are:

•West Pasco Recycling Center, on Hays Road in the Spring Hill area. Open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

•Pasco County Facilities, 7220 Osteen Road, in the Port Richey area. Open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

•City of New Port Richey Maintenance Facility, 6420 Pine Hill Road. Open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information on hazardous waste programs, call (727) 847-8041 or e-mail felshamy@pascocountyfl.net.

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