By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – High demand for one of Alabaster’s newest programs has caused the city to expand the program to several more locations, including the new Alabaster Walmart Market on Alabama 119.

In March, the Alabaster City Council voted to purchase and install a BD65 Biodiesel Processor at Alabaster’s wastewater treatment plant, which is capable of transforming household and restaurant cooking grease into usable biodiesel fuel.

Through the city’s grease-recycling program, Alabaster has made free plastic jugs available to all city residents for the past year. Residents can then use the plastic jugs to collect used cooking grease before dropping off full containers and picking up new containers at several collection points around the city.

Since the program began, Alabaster has seen “very” high participation from residents, said Alabaster City Manager George Henry.

After collecting used cooking grease, Alabaster Environmental Services employees place it into the processor, which heats the grease up to 115 degrees. Employees then add methanol and potassium hydroxide to the mix before the substance is filtered and eventually transformed into biodiesel.

The city originally placed grease exchange stations at a few city facilities, but has since expanded the program significantly, Henry said.

Exchange stations are now available at The View apartments, Alabaster Fire Station No. 3, the Foodland grocery store, the Chevron gas station on Alabama 119, Fox Valley apartments, Fire Station No. 2, the Environmental Services facility on U.S. 31, Fire Station No. 1 and at the Walmart Market near the intersection of Alabama 119 and Fulton Springs Road.

Since the city began the grease-recycling program in November 2014 as a result of an idea brought to the City Council by Ward 4 Councilman Rick Walters, the city has seen multiple benefits.

In addition to cutting down on the city’s fuel costs, the grease-recycling program also will improve the longevity of Alabaster’s sewer system, as less grease will enter the wastewater treatment facility, city leaders said previously.

In May, Environmental Services employees converted one of the city’s tractors to successfully run on 100-percent biodiesel they created by using recycled grease.

To learn more about the biodiesel and grease-recycling program, visit Cityofalabaster.com/departments/environmental-services/alabaster-bio-diesel-program/.