Hi All,
We have just had a guy ring up telling us he would like to produce his own biodiesel from home. Does anyone have experience in dealing with anything like this? I would be especially interested in hearing from other Councils that have been faced with a similar situation or anyone who knows about the related odours, waste materials, contamination possibilities that we should consider before approving this from going ahead. Any already established policies on biodiesel production would also be appreciated.=20
Thanks.
Debra Bell
Environmental Sustainability Officer
Queanbeyan City Council
P: (02) 6298 4546
F: (02) 6298 0246
E: [email protected]
Biodiesel Production
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Debra,
A late response (I've been away). Some councils (for example, Hume and Moreland in Victoria and Newcastle in NSW) have quite a strong focus on biofuels and can offer fellow councils quite a bit of good advice on their experiences in this area. Biodiesel has been made by individuals across Australia for some time now with no reported problems. The materials used are reasonably safe in the quantities normally used by individuals with virtually no odour or waste or contamination problems provided common sense is also applied. The Alternative Technology Association (www.ata.org.au) has a number of links and publications on this topic and can provide referalls to biodiesel groups in Australia.
Hope this helps
Cheers
MOC
The Oregon Environmental Council has a great biofuels web resource, www.biofuels4oregon.org, there is a lot of info, including how to make your own biofuel, they link to an awesome biofuel co-op in portland that has a wiki site gobiodiesal.org
-rachel
Hi Debra,
Try www.ata.org.au as they usually have a handle on this are. (site is not responding this afternoon so maybe having an issue.)
Kind regards,
Paul Payten
GEENI
Hi, Debra!
Our agency has been working with this issue and recently published fact sheets for biodiesel producers available at the Office of Regulatory Assistance. Much of the permitting information is particular to Washington state, but you might get an idea of the types of concerns: methanol use and fire danger, glycerin by-products, wastewater, etcetera. From this page, http://www.ora.wa.gov/SpotlightSeries.htm , here are the links, mostly for larger scale producers, providing information about environmental permits and concerns related to biodiesel production. *Biodiesel Fact Sheet *Table of Biodiesel Permits (in the state of Washington, U.S.) I have a fact sheet and a Power Point presentation for micro-scale producers that our technical person sent me. They are not on the Web. I can send them, if you are interested. The Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable offers more resources, too: http://www.glrppr.org/contacts/gltopichub.cfm?sectorid=138
Good luck!
Diana Ruth Olegre
Washington State Department of Ecology
Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program
Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist [email protected]
360-407-6609
In response to the enquiry below, here is a link that has a lot of information. [email protected]
Sandra Eckert
Recycling Promotion Officer
Environua Trust
Levin, NZ 0274-776-347
[email protected]
Currently, the California Air Resources Board (CARB ) has approved the voluntary use of B-20 or less (20% bio-fuel and 80% diesel by volume) but warns that users should check with engine manufacturers to make sure that using B-20 does not void warranties on new or rebuilt equipment. While biodiesel does reduce diesel PM (and therefore, public health risk) and reduce the need for fossil fuel, it may increase NOx, but the studies are not conclusive. Because Santa Barbara County is still nonattainment for the State ozone standard; the benefits of biodiesel are not clear, and we have a policy of being "fuel-neutral", we do not mandate the use of biodiesel (even B-20). B-20 is sold locally and voluntary use of any type of bio diesel is not prohibited. Here is a copy of CARB 's presentation on biodiesel and alternative fuels (see slides 12 - 17). http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/gasoline/meeting/2006/052406arb_presentation ..pdf