West Lafayette looking for grease

The digestors at the West Lafayette Wastewater Utility Plant are hungry for grease. The plant wants to accept up to 50,000 gallons of fats, oils and grease a week. The city will have to haul that amount in, so the city council voted to lift the restriction to import certain types of waste generated outside the city.

"We'll take any fats: any cooking oils, specifically. Not automotive oils," said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis.

The city will earn money on the grease brought into the city. West Lafayette will charge a fee to dispose of large amounts of fats. The price per gallon is still being decided.

"It will probably be less than Indy. They are currently charging 25 cents per gallon," said Utility Director David Henderson.

The grease will also save the city money. The fats fed to the digestor will create electricity for the Wastewater Utility Plant.

"Probably reduce our electricity bill at least $40,000 a year," said Henderson.

West Lafayette also wants cooking grease from residents, but the recycling of residents' cooking oil will be done free of charge. The city will hand out plastic jugs for people to put their cooking grease in.

"Most people in West Lafayette know not to pour grease down the drain. They are putting it in containers and putting it in the trash and it's going to the landfill. To me, that's a waste," explained Henderson.

West Lafayette residents can pick up a jug for grease recycling at West Lafayette City Hall. They can recycle the grease at the recycling center on South River Road for no charge.

One gallon of grease will power a 40 watt bulb for 24 hours.