Downey Ridge Environmental Company (Greasezilla) and bp plc have announced a new partnership focused on utilizing brown grease waste as a feedstock for biofuel production, marking a significant step in sustainable energy advancement. Under the agreement, bp will fund the expansion of Greasezilla's facilities, aiming to enhance the supply of brown grease to the renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) markets.

Greasezilla’s technology specializes in extracting nearly pure brown grease from grease trap waste and refining it into biofuel feedstock. This innovation offers a promising solution for managing fats, oils, and grease (FOG)—materials often sourced from commercial kitchens and food processing industries that typically end up in landfills or are incinerated. By capturing and converting this waste, the partnership aims to create a nationwide platform to manage FOG waste more efficiently, addressing a costly and environmentally challenging problem for many cities.

As part of the expansion plan, the agreement includes funding up to 40 new FOG receiving stations, with investments of up to $5 million per site. These stations will use Greasezilla’s proprietary technology to convert waste into a valuable biofuel feedstock that is covered by the Jacobsen price reporting service, which tracks market prices for commodities like RD and SAF.

Traditionally, grease trap waste is disposed of in landfills, where it poses serious environmental risks. When combined with rainwater, the waste creates leachate, a toxic liquid that can seep into surrounding soils and aquifers, causing contamination. The methane released from the waste also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Greasezilla’s technology mitigates these environmental issues by diverting waste away from landfills, reducing methane emissions and lowering the risks of soil and water contamination. Additionally, this diversion helps address landfill overcapacity, which has been driving up disposal costs across the U.S., as reported by the Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) in 2023.

The collaboration between Greasezilla and bp merges their respective expertise in waste management and biofuel production, creating an efficient and sustainable biofuel supply chain. Greasezilla benefits from bp’s global network, which expands the distribution of biofuels, while bp gains access to low-carbon feedstock to meet the rising demand for SAF. The initial investment from bp will help scale Greasezilla’s operations, integrating its technology into bp’s supply chain. Future phases may focus on further increasing production capacity and refining the technology to maximize both efficiency and environmental impact.

Nigel Dunn, Senior Vice President of Biofuels Growth at bp, highlighted the importance of the partnership, stating that bioenergy is a key component of bp’s transition strategy, and the collaboration with Greasezilla supports their goals in producing low-carbon fuels. Greasezilla President Ron Crosier echoed these sentiments, expressing satisfaction with bp’s shared commitment to environmental sustainability and their aligned vision for the future of biofuels.