State and Local Climate and Energy Program

Community-Based Biofuel Program

Monroe County, New York

Federal Funding: $225,950
Project Timeline: February 2011 – January 2013

Project Summary
Community Characteristics
Program Results/Estimated Results

Project Summary

Converting Waste Oil from Public Facilities to Biodiesel for Public Vehicles

Monroe County is working to ensure it will meet its project goal of producing biodiesel from waste grease. Upon learning that public facilities and local businesses will not be able to provide enough waste grease, the County has shifted its collection efforts to residential waste grease. The County, working in conjunction with Waste Management, opened a collection facility called the EcoPark for unique and difficult-to-recycle household items. Testing of the grease indicated that some of the material is suitable for biodiesel production. Additionally, the County is continuing to work with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to procure the necessary biodiesel production equipment and materials. The County will begin outreach efforts about how residential waste grease can be recycled and the benefits of biodiesel through news stories and radio advertisements, with the goal of engaging residents and collecting 100 gallons of residential waste grease a week.

Use of existing waste streams to produce biodiesel is particularly attractive due to the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the fuel produced, while simultaneously offsetting costs associated with waste disposal. In order for a waste oil and grease facility to be economically attractive, significant amounts of the feedstock material need to be available. Monroe County, with technical support from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), will establish a centralized biodiesel production facility to convert waste oil and grease from public facilities. The feedstock will initially come from at least 6 public facilities, including Monroe Community College, Monroe County Hospital, Monroe County Airport food concessions, the County Jail, and the Seneca Park Zoo food service, expanding to other opportune locations as possible. The biodiesel will then be used to replace petroleum-based diesel in the County's vehicle fleet, and if excess biodiesel is produced, it will be used to heat County buildings.

The County will first acquire the necessary equipment for fuel production and then produce test batches of biodiesel to ensure it meets all applicable standards and regulations. After the production process is verified, the County will begin collection of waste oil from partnering facilities, conversion of that oil into biodiesel, and distribution of the biodiesel to the County fleet. Biodiesel production will occur at the County Fleet Center for easy distribution.

As the process matures, the County will launch education and outreach efforts to promote replicability of the project in partnership with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. This outreach will have many aspects, including a "how-to" guide for local governments, a fact sheet about project impacts, publishing information about the project on County and partner websites, a demonstration of the conversion process, and workshops for local governments across New York State. The project is estimated to displace approximately 7,000 of petroleum-based diesel fuel each year by replacing it with biodiesel made from waste cooking oil produced within the county. With time, Monroe County hopes to expand those amounts within their own borders and in other local jurisdictions as well.

Community Characteristics

Population:	733,703
Area:	659.29 square miles
Government Type:	County
Community Type:	Mixed
Median Household Income:	$51,105

Program Results/Estimated Results

Expected GHG Reductions:	60 metric tons CO₂e annually
Expected Diesel Reductions:	7,000 gallons

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