F.O.G. Digestion Program

“Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that 75 percent of the sewer systems in thethat 75 percent of the sewer systems in the United States work at only half capacity 

because of grease clogs”because of grease clogs

‐WEM  March 2002

Fun Facts (FOG Facts)Fun Facts (FOG Facts)

• WWWrgf comWWW.rgf.com

• US restaurants dump 3 Billion tons of FOG per yearyear.

• Double Digit restaurant industry growth

• FOG output 3X the 1960 level

• Estimated to be #1 Cause of Sewer Overflows

– (source Grease FOG 101 www.rgf.com)

FOG Conundrum (TomMoreau CSWD)FOG Conundrum (Tom Moreau, CSWD)

• WWTF’s have a FOG problem.  They are p yreluctant to enforce existing ordinances without viable disposal/utilization options of the FOG collected by haulers.

• The private sector haulers and potentially processors are reluctant to invest needed capital to separate FOG unless they perceive acapital to separate FOG unless they perceive a serious enforcement program by the public WWTF’sWWTF s.

Grease Trap Material(Tom Moreau CSWD)Grease Trap Material(Tom Moreau, CSWD)

• Wastewater Treatment Plants normally don’t• Wastewater Treatment Plants normally don t want it, if they do accept it, they want it diluted.  (may charge extra for high conc )(may charge extra for high conc.)

R d i i ill t t t• Rendering companies will not accept trap grease if it is contaminated with sewage.

• Very little grease/water separating equipment in Vermont.

REALITYREALITY

• No enforcement MechanismsNo enforcement Mechanisms

• No Management Mechanisms

Inability to handle FOG locallyInability to handle FOG locally 

= no enforcement

Cooperative EvaluationCooperative Evaluation

• Solid Waste Grant Study Funded by VT ANR through the Chittenden Solid Waste Districtthrough the Chittenden Solid Waste District– Grease Trap Management Tool

E l i f E J i WWTF Di– Evaluation of Essex Junction WWTF Direct Digestion

8

9

Turning the FOG LiabilityTurning the FOG Liability into an  Asset!

“It’s Not Easy Being Green”

It s Not Easy Being Green

CARBON CREDIT

Carbon

R d ti

Carbon sequestering

Reduction

Renewable energy

RGGI

Source:http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/renewable.html

F.O.G. The Other BiomassF.O.G. The Other Biomass

As we say in the sewer, if you’re not prepared to go all the way don’t put your boots on in the first place”the way, don t put your boots on in the first place

Ed Norton, the Honeymooners TV show

Getting StartedGetting Started

• Problem IdentifiedProblem Identified– 2005 Comprehensive CCTV evaluation of collection systemcollection system

• NEIWPCC Concord, NH program

E l ti f S l O i C it• Evaluation of Surplus Organics Capacity

• CHP energy program

Treatment OptionsTreatment Options

• Source PreventionSource Prevention

• Through Conventional Process

lk d dfill• Bulk and Landfill

• Incorporate with Dewatering

• Composting 

• Refusal to acceptRefusal to accept

• Direct Digestion

O h• Others

Direct DigestionDirect Digestion

Methane (Wikipedia com)Methane  (Wikipedia.com)

ANIMAL WASTE(Popular Science October, 2008)

DAILY OUTPUT!

Cow

Elephant

Llama

Cow

Poop Power (Kw)

Methane Yield

Dog

PigDaily Output

0 100 200 300

Chicken

Food Waste Has Valuable Energy!gyCara Peck, US EPA Region 9, Courtesy of M‐Con Bio and Farmatic Biotech Energy Ag.

Residual Fats

Grass silage 1. Cut

Corn Silage

Food Wastes

Floated Fats

Rape Seed Cake

Residual Fats

Green Waste

Biosolids

Bio Waste bio‐bin

Brewers' Grain

Corn Silage (pasty)

g

Fooder Beet

Beets

Vinasse

Sugar Beet Silage

Grass 1. Cut

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Cattle Manure

Pig Manure

Poultry

Whey

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Grease DisposalGrease Disposal

Pumping ConcernsPumping Concerns

• Clog concerns

• Equipment Concerns

• Flow meter

• Direct digestion and Co‐Gen• Direct digestion and Co‐Gen

• Process problems when mismanaged

• Temperature

Average FOG additionAverage FOG addition

13%13%(Volume as a Percent of WPS Volume fed to Digester. 2.7MGal.)

Volatile Solids Reduction

>65% Total

FOG ProcessingFOG Processing• Benefits

– Increased Methane • Drawbacks

– Handling issuesProduction

– Increased methane quality

Handling issues

– Odors

– Potential line clogsquality

– Increased Revenue

– Running Digester at

– Build it and they may not come!

Cl i diffi lRunning Digester at Hydraulic Capacity

– Proper FOG 

– Cleaning difficulty• Grease Entrained Rags

• Grease mat(s)Management

– Minimal Biosolids ProductionProduction

Essex Junction Methane ProductionEssex Junction Methane Production

2500000 Cubic Feet

2000000

1000000

1500000

500000

0

Co‐Generation Output (monthly kWh)Co Generation Output (monthly kWh)

50000

35000

40000

45000

25000

30000

35000

10000

15000

20000

0

5000

10000

Digester PerformanceDigester Performance

0.300Digester VAA RatioDigester Total Alkalinity

0.200

0.300

4000

6000

8000

0.000

0.100

0

2000

4000

1500Digester Volatile Acids

80 Digester Methane Gas Percentage

500

1000

60

70g

0 50

FOG is not for Everyone!FOG is not for Everyone!

• Ties up staff ResourcesTies up staff Resources

• Odors

• Messy HandlingMessy Handling

• Frequent digester cleaningscleanings

• Increased Digester Monitoring www.tamiyausa.comg

• Material Handling Infrastructure capitalp

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

• Best Fit for Essex Junction • Less Desirable fit forBest Fit for Essex Junction– High BOD/COD Wastes

– Emulsified Oils

Less Desirable fit for       Essex Junction– Commercial Wastes

– Conventional Grease Traps

• Resolve local disposal i

– Petrolatum based FOG

issues.

What’s Next?What s Next?• Emerging Markets for recyclables (digestible)

– Tallow Biodiesel

– Food Waste

– Commercial Soaps

– By–Product Treatment –glyceriny g y

– Food waste derived biodiesel

– Other organicsg

WWTF’s With Anaerobic DigestionWWTF s With Anaerobic Digestion

• Undesirable by‐product TreatmentUndesirable by product Treatment

• Consolidated approach to Resource Mgmt.CHP– CHP

– Alternate Revenue Sources

– Increased Methane Production

– Solid Waste Districts

– Public Private Partnerships• Energy Service Companies (ESCO’s)

bl d ( ’ )• Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s)

www veryspatial comwww.veryspatial.com

Jim JutrasJim Jutras

Village of Essex Junction

2 Lincoln Street

Essex Junction VT 05452Essex Junction, VT 05452Email:  ww@essexjunction.org

(802) 878‐6943 ext 201

www.essexjunction.orgj g