Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Total FOG Solutions® as a Service" mean?
Total FOG Solutions® is a platform the incorporates FOG management technology that mitigates pipe blockages in the collection system and a FOG-To-Biodiesel micro-refinery that is collocated onsite to produce low-carbon-intensity biofuel from a waste stream that typically represents a significant O&M cost for operators. ‘Total FOG Solutions® as a Service’ is a turnkey solution through which operators hand over the entire management of FOG to REA under a long-term operating contract or energy savings performance contract (ESPC).
We understand you offer various options for how to deliver an REA Total FOG Solutions® project. How does a public-private partnership (P3) work?
A public-private partnership (P3) is a collaboration between government and private entities to fund, build, and operate projects such as wastewater infrastructure. The government provides oversight and often some funding, while the private partner contributes investment, expertise, and management. Both share risks and rewards based on the agreement. Oftentimes, it provides a public utility an opportunity to develop a project for which it does not have the capital to undertake.
How would our wastewater treatment plant go about assessing the appropriate size of an REA FOG-to-biodiesel project?
To successfully assess the size of a Total FOG Solutions® project, which incorporates a FOG-To-Biodiesel micro-refinery, you would have to conduct a preliminary study of the trap grease volumes that exist in a certain radius of your wastewater treatment plant. Surveying grease haulers in the region is a good starting point, to understand the unmet demand for increased dumping capacity addressed by your prospective project. Engaging other wastewater treatment plants in the region is prudent, as they collectively can represent a generous volume of grease they can divert to your project.
Is there a minimum project size for your Total FOG Solutions® platform?
Yes, but it depends on a few different factors that vary across the country. Before we can provide a definitive answer, we would need to understand the daily flow of your plant, its scum-grease concentration, available volume of trucked-in trap grease from grease haulers and potentially from surrounding wastewater treatment plants.
What is the typical footprint for a Total FOG Solutions® project?
The footprint for a Total FOG Solutions® project depends on the productin capacity of the FOG-To-Biodiesel micro-refinery. For example, a project that can process one million gallons of decanted brown grease annually will have a footprint of approximately 225,000 square feet. This includes land necessary for a FOG receiving station to handle a FOG volume of 33 million gallons per year.
We have an existing FOG receiving station. Does your Total FOG Solutions® platform require a new FOG receving station?
Our Total FOG Solutions® platform does not require a new FOG receiving station, provided it adequately addresses the available volume of trap grease in the region. Our projects commence with a feasibility study, which quantifies this volume and informs the decision.
We already generate revenue from tipping fees at our FOG receiving station. How is this existing revenue and any new revenue handled after a Total FOG Solutions® project is commissioned?
The revenue generated from a Total FOG Solutions® project is handled according the terms of an agreement. This agreement will differ, based on our clients’ preferred project-delivery method — design/build, public-private partnership (P3), Total FOG Solutinos® as a Service, or energy savings performance contract (ESPC).
We're intrigued by the concept of your waste-to-energy technology, but we're not interested in operating a biodiesel production facility. How can we collaborate to implement this technology without making such an operational commitment?
For operators not interested in operating a FOG-To-Biodiesel micro-refinery, we offer various project-delivery options that faciliate the implementation of our Total FOG Solutions® platform without any operational commitment on the part of the operator.
Can we purchase your grease recovery technology for our collection system independently of your FOG-to-biodiesel system?
No. Our Total FOG Solutions® platform was designed to optimize resource recovery in a holistic manner. It mitigates pipe blockages in the collection system, bolsters municipal FOG programs, solves the need for increased dumping capacity for grease haulers, eliminates the environmental cost associated with landfilling and incinerating FOG, and helps achive energy neutrality by producing low-carbon-intensity biodiesel from a waste stream that currently represents a significant O&M cost to wastewater treatment plant operators.
How is the sale of the biodiesel produced onsite managed?
No matter the project-delivery method, we will faciliate the sale of the biodiesel produced onsite. As a means to produce the lowest possible carbon-intensity biodiesel, we will help secure a local buyer. This purchase will be formalized through a long-term off-take agreement to ensure the vability of the project.
What is grease hauling, and why is it important?
Grease hauling is whereby fats, oils, and grease are removed from food service establishments, so as to avert blockages in the sewer system, guarantee the right flow of wastewater, and to protect the environment from being contaminated and harmed.
How does REA’s Total FOG Solutions® help grease haulers?
REA’s Total FOG Solutions® enhances operational efficiency, reduces costs, and ensures environmental compliance for grease haulers.
What are the benefits of partnering with REA for grease hauling?
Partnering with REA reduces disposal costs, ensures environmental compliance, and optimizes grease management for greater operational efficiency.
What types of businesses benefit from REA’s Total FOG Solutions®?
Municipalities, grease hauling services, restaurants, food processors, hotels, and any other business that generates grease waste benefit from REA’s Total FOG Solutions® by ensuring proper grease disposal, reducing pipe blockages, and compliance with environmental protection standards.
What is grease management and why it is important?
Grease management prevents sewer blockages, protects wastewater systems, and ensures environmental compliance by properly disposing of fats, oils, and grease.
Where can I dispose of my grease trap waste?
Grease trap waste can be disposed of by certified grease haulers, wastewater treatment facilities, or biodiesel production plants that specialize in recycling or processing fats, oils, and grease.
Why is biodiesel a better option for transportation than conventional diesel?
Biodiesel is cleaner, renewable, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, making it a more sustainable option than conventional diesel for transportation.
How does Total FOG Solutions® help wastewater treatment plants achieve energy neutrality?
Total FOG Solutions® helps wastewater treatment plants achieve energy neutrality by converting grease waste into renewable energy. This reduces energy consumption, lowers operating costs, and supports sustainable practices by turning waste into a valuable energy resource.
What is FOG and what is a FOG control program?
FOG stands for fats, oils, and grease; a FOG control program prevents sewer system blockages and environmental pollution.
How does FOG create a sewer blockage?
FOG (fats, oils, and grease) solidifies when it cools, sticking to pipe walls and accumulating over time. This buildup narrows pipes, restricting wastewater flow, leading to costly sewer blockages, backups, and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).
What are the key advantages of using biodiesel over conventional marine fuels?
Biodiesel is a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and lowering sulfur content. It also provides better lubrication, extending engine life while maintaining comparable energy output.
What are the key benefits of using biodiesel in the maritime industry?
Biodiesel reduces carbon emissions, enhances engine performance, and meets environmental regulations. It also helps marine operators lower their reliance on fossil fuels and decrease maintenance costs by providing superior lubrication.
What is Total FOG Solutions® as a Service, and how does it work?
Total FOG Solutions® as a Service is an end-to-end platform that helps municipalities and industrial businesses manage, recover, and repurpose FOG waste. It seamlessly integrates collection and conversion processes to optimize FOG recovery and biofuel production.
How can wastewater treatment plants reduce disposal costs through Total FOG Solutions®?
By diverting FOG waste from landfills and incinerators, treatment plants reduce hauling and disposal costs. The platform enables on-site biofuel conversion, turning waste into a valuable energy source that offsets existng energy costs.
How does Total FOG Solutions® help municipalities reduce maintenance costs?
By preventing FOG-related sewer blockages and system failures, municipalities lower the frequency of maintenance calls, reduce infrastructure wear, and extend the lifespan of wastewater systems.
What is required for a municipality or business to implement a Total FOG Solutions® project?
A feasibility assessment is conducted to evaluate FOG waste volume and infrastructure readiness. A project requires grease recovery units placed upstream from chronically troubled areas in the collection system, a FOG receiving station for grease haulers, and REA's patented FOG-to-Biodiesel micro-refinery that is collocated onsite.
How does Total FOG Solutions® help cities and businesses comply with wastewater discharge regulations?
The platform extracts FOG out of the collection system through the installation of REA's grease recovery units and diverts grease trap waste delivered by grease haulers from the treatment train, contributing to compliance efforts with wastewater discharge regulations.
Does biodiesel impact engine performance or maintenance?
No, biodiesel provides excellent lubrication, reducing engine wear. It is compatible with most modern diesel engines and meets industry standards, ensuring reliable performance with minimal modifications.
What are the regulatory and compliance considerations for using Total FOG Solutions® biodiesel?
Biodiesel produced using REA's Total FOG Solutions® platform complies with local, state, and federal regulations, including ASTM D6751 standards for biodiesel quality. Users must adhere to environmental guidelines, storage regulations, and blending requirements set by agencies like the EPA. Always check regional compliance rules before use.
Does REA’s biodiesel offer cost savings compared to fossil diesel?
Yes, REA's biodiesel can provide cost savings because it is produced from grease waste that otherwise represents a cost to process and dispose of. State and federal subsidies for production and blending provide additional incentives to develop a Total FOG Solutions® project.