Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department is hosting a “Biodiesel Production Re-start” event on July 15, 2013, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (5125 NE 63rd Ave., Gainesville). The event will celebrate the County’s reentry into biodiesel manufacturing. 

The County had suspended production because of the costly and time consuming paperwork and reporting previously required by the State.  The reporting made it financially prohibitive for local governments, wanting to promote recycling of waste vegetable oil and reduce fossil fuel costs, to operate a small scale biodiesel manufacturing operation. The re-start was made possible because of the passage by the Florida Legislature of House Bill 633, which simplified the paperwork and reporting requirements for local governments. The Alachua County Legislative Delegation championed the bill in Tallahassee. In the House, the bill was sponsored by Rep. Keith Perry and co-sponsored by Rep. Clovis Watson.  In the Senate, the bill was sponsored by Senator Rob Bradley.

View HB 633

The event will include a demonstration of the biodiesel production process and a tour of the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center.  Refreshments will be served.  The public is invited. 

“We are very appreciative of the good work of our State delegation,” said Alachua County Environmental Protection Director, Chris Bird. “The passage of this bill will encourage citizens to recycle this material, rather than putting it into landfills or down the drain where it can damage our sewage systems.” 

For more information, contact the Household Hazardous Waste Coordinator, Kurt Seaburg at 352-334-0440 or kurt@alachuacounty.us.