By Patricia Breakey
WALTON _ A Walton man is fueling his passion for agricultural viability by recycling used vegetable oil.
Greg Schnabel owns and operates Greasecyclers, a recycling company that produces biodiesel fuel from waste vegetable oil.
The fuel can be used in any vehicle that uses diesel, without engine changes, and it can be used for home heating.
Greasecyclers is located on Tyrbach Farm in Walton _ an operating dairy farm and organic garden owned by his in-laws, George and Linda Morgan, since 1966.
Schnabel said he recognized the need for providing farms with a consistent, cost-cutting alternative to diesel fuel, offering a boost to local agricultural viability.
"We grow it, recycle it, cook it, power our tractors and heat our homes with it," Schnabel said. "That is where my heart is, keeping agriculture viable."
Greasecyclers is keeping energy dollars local and lowering the area's carbon footprint, he said, and its mission is to provide diesel engine operators a local alternative to petroleum-based diesel.
"My passion is not using foreign oil by producing an alternative that is locally sourced," Schnabel said Friday. "Biodiesel is low-priced and much more stable than the fossil fuel market."
Biodiesel prices are stable, roughly matching the conventional diesel market, but biodiesel dollars are supporting local businesses and farmers, Schnabel said.
Dave Dolan, owner of Flying Rabbit Organic Farm in Otego, said he received his first delivery a couple of weeks ago and he has been using it to power his tractors.
"It runs great," Dolan said Friday. "I'm glad he's doing it, and I hope the idea catches on."
Dolan said this week's nice weather allowed him to do a lot of work with his tractors
and he hasn't noticed any difference in the operation of his machines.
Also in the works is a pilot program by Catskill Biodiesel Cooperative, made up of Delaware and Otsego County farmers, that involves growing and pressing canola oil with the intent of packaging it as Greasecylers' fry oil.
Greasecyclers will be readily available to businesses that encourage the "grease cycle."
According to Schnabel, biodiesel puts 70 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than petroleum-based diesel fuel, and biodiesel has been proven much less noxious to asthmatics.
Schnabel said that SUNY Oneonta has made sustainability a priority and now redirects 100 percent of its used cooking oil for two purposes _ to heat an on-campus lodge and to be processed into biodiesel by Greasecyclers.
Schnabel said he began collecting waste vegetable oil two years ago and only recently reached the point of being able to produce a ready supply of biodiesel.
He said his collection route ranges about 100 miles from Binghamton to Albany and is gathered from mostly mom and pop-type businesses and area colleges.
"SUCO and SUNY Delhi have been very supportive, and so has Brooks House of Bar-B-Qs," Schnabel said.
Greasecyclers is manufacturing and selling biodiesel, or B100, which can be delivered for off-road use or home heating oil in any quantity. Any blend requested can be accommodated.
For more information, e-mail info@greasecyclers.com or call 865-8020.
