Montgomery County representatives will study using grease discarded by local restaurants to create biodiesel fuel that could be used to run some government vehicles.
Local leaders in San Francisco announced earlier this month that city-owned diesel vehicles are now all running on biodiesel fuel.
Montgomery Council Member George Leventhal said he wanted the County to follow on the city’s heels and become “one of a select few” local governments to explore using biodiesel fuel in government vehicles.
Leventhal called the idea a “win-win-win” proposition forrestaurants, the environment and the county.
“By converting restaurant grease into fuel, we will reduce costs for the restaurants, produce fuel that the County needs and generate far less pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions,” Leventhal said.
During an October discussion of the council’s management and fiscal policy committee, council members were told many county vehicles now using diesel fuel could also use biodiesel.
Some county waste officials have said the two substances produce roughly the same mileage in cars.
According to council staff, the discarded grease can probably be collected from private restaurants at a lesser cost than the restaurants now pay private haulers to take it away.
The new biodiesel fuel is safe and biodegradable, and its use in place of traditional fuels can reduce air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, according to county officials.
A Montgomery County Web site launched in September is already connecting those who use vegetable oil with the owners of cars that operate on biofuels.
Those who want to use the oil must agree to pick it up from the restaurants free of charge.
Restaurant owners typically view the used oil from deep fryers as waste material and pay to have it hauled away.
Thus far, seven people have signed up on the site to donate leftover grease and 11 people have posted requests for grease donations.
