Nov 29 2010
Operation REACH and AmeriCorps have started a new program called Golfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project, to convert used oil into biodiesel. Under the project, students from high school and college collect used oil from the restaurants in Louisiana. The students also helped in the construction of a biodiesel plant in Kenner, Louisiana.
The President of SDT Waste & Debris Services, Sidney Torres, commented that the people of Louisiana have never been educated on what has to be done with the oil used for frying turkey. As a result, the oil just ends up stagnating in a landfill.
The director of the Golfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project, Simons Jones, said that they collect a maximum of 500 gallons of used oil everyday. One gallon of oil makes one gallon of biofuel, he noted.
At present, the biodiesel plant of the project produces approximately 90 gallons of biodiesel per day. The produced biodiesel will be sold to the biofuel company, Golden Leaf Energy.