Press Room
RETHINKWASTE CONTRACTORS SWITCH FLEET TO B5 FUEL
Biodiesel Blend Better for Environment
SAN CARLOS, CA – May 6, 2011 – RethinkWaste's contractors, Recology San Mateo County and South Bay Recycling (SBR), have switched the type of fuel used by their respective fleets to B5 fuel, a blend of 5% biodiesel and petroleum diesel fuel. The change was made on April 1, 2011.
Following the state regulation change, San Mateo County's Environmental Health Services Division, who serves as the state's enforcement arm, made the determination in April 2010 that the regulation also prevented the storage of B5 in Shoreway's existing tanks. As such, Recology and SBR, whose contracts started on January 1, 2011, began using regular diesel.
Both contractors were originally going to be using B20 fuel, a 20% biodiesel and petroleum blend, as required by their contracts with RethinkWaste. However a change in state regulations for underground fuel storage tanks prevented the storage of the B20 fuel at the Shoreway Environmental Center's existing underground fuel tanks. The San Carlos facility is owned by RethinkWaste and operated by SBR. It also serves as Recology's operations yards and both Recology and SBR fuel their respective fleets on site.
The County recently reversed its decision, allowing B5 fuel to be stored in Shoreway's existing tanks. Recology has a fleet of 160 collection and support vehicles that are used throughout the RethinkWaste service area to provide the CartSMART and BizSMART Recycle, Compost and Garbage collection services. SBR has 20 transfer-trailer tractors, one roll-off truck and six wheel loaders.
RethinkWaste will be analyzing the costs for upgrading the underground fuel storage tanks, likely in the next year, that would allow the storage of B20. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from renewable sources such as plant oils and used cooking oil.
RethinkWaste
Formed in 1982, RethinkWaste is a joint powers authority comprised of 12 Member Agencies (Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, the County of San Mateo and the West Bay Sanitary District) in San Mateo County and is a leader in implementing innovative waste reduction and recycling programs. RethinkWaste also owns and manages the Shoreway facility in San Carlos consisting of a permitted solid waste transfer station and a recycling processing facility. The Agency's legal name is the South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA.) For more information on RethinkWaste, please visit our website at www.RethinkWaste.org.
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