The Nations's First Citywide Program that Collects Waste Grease to Create Biofuel for Municipal Fleet

San Francisco, CA – In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change and curb the growing number of clogged sewers plaguing City residents and businesses, the SFPUC and Mayor Gavin Newsom launched an innovative solution to collect fats, oil and grease (FOG) free of charge from City restaurants and turn them into biofuel for City-owned vehicles. SFGreasecycle is the nation’s first citywide program to turn FOG into fuel for municipal fleets and will save residents and businesses money, unclog City sewers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first SFGreasecycle restaurant waste grease pickup occurred at Puccini and Pinetti in Union Square.

“San Francisco’s entrepreneurial and environmental spirit is once again front and center with our innovative biodiesel creation program,” said Mayor Newsom. “Our program will serve as a model for cities throughout the world who aim to transform their grease waste into useable, sustainable energy.”

SFGreasecycle is a program that was developed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) as a sustainable alternative to combat sewer blockages caused in part by excess cooking oils and fats discharged down drains from restaurants and homes. Each year, the SFPUC estimates that 50% of sewer emergency calls are related to backups caused by grease blockages costing their ratepayers $3.5 million a year in repairs.

“We’re taking a serious City problem and using the best available technology to save our ratepayers’ money and do something good for the environment,” said SFPUC General Manager Susan Leal. “For every 5 gallons of grease we collect and keep out of our sewers, we displace 5 gallons of petroleum diesel. That is a net 100 pound reduction in carbon emission.”

San Francisco, a national leader in initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has a City fleet of more than 1600 diesel vehicles being retrofitted to accept the new biofuel source. In 2006, Mayor Newsom signed an executive directive mandating that the entire city fleet be converted by December 31, 2007 . The City is currently on pace to meet that goal. Initially, biodiesel for the City fleet will be purchased through an existing city contract with the future plan to procure all biodiesel generated from San Francisco’s restaurant waste oil stream.

Recycled FOG from San Francisco restaurants is estimated to generate 1.5 million gallons of biofuel each year. 59 restaurants have already signed up for the SFGreasecycle program before its launch with more expressing interest every day.

“The SFPUC’s SFGreasecycle program provides an immediate financial benefit to one of San Francisco’s most important economic engines – the restaurant and food service establishment industry,” said Golden Gate Restaurant Association President Kevin Westlye. “I encourage all restaurants and food service establishments to sign up for the program.”

For more information or to sign up for the SFPUC’s free restaurant waste oil collection service, please call (415) 695-7366 or visit http://sfgreasecycle.org.