Anglicky
Calif trash trucks to run on recycled veggie oil
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A garbage company serving the heart of Silicon Valley said Thursday all its trucks would be reconfigured to run exclusively on "biodiesel" - a fuel made from french fry oils, sewage plant grease screenings and other vegetable oils.
"Were the first company in the country to use it fleet-wide and in 100 percent of our vehicles," said Kerynn Gianotti, a spokeswoman for GreenTeam of San Jose.
GreenTeam, a locally-owned recycling and garbage company, is currently making necessary changes on its fleet of 95 trucks, which serve some 85,000 single-family homes in San Jose as well as apartment buildings and other facilities.
Biodiesel, often made from soybean oil or reclaimed cooking oil, has been gaining in popularity as a relatively low-emission alternative to petroleum-based fuel.
U.S. production of biodiesel is about 30 million gallons a year (111 million litres), compared with about 1.6 billion gallons (5.9 million litres) a year for ethanol, another popular alternative fuel.
Ken Etherington, GreenTeams general manager, said using the new fuel would help the company cut some 50,000 pounds (22,700 kg) of air pollution emissions each year.
"This new fuel creates a win-win for the community and GreenTeam: We continue to improve our service and the environment by identifying new ways to recycle and reduce pollution," he said.
Gianotti said biodiesel has other additional benefits in that it is a nontoxic, nonhazardous waste that is renewable and domestically produced.
Story by Andrew Quin
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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