Tuesday, November 20, 2007 |

  By Carolyn Tyler

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) — On the day the “no plastic bags” law goes into effect at large grocery stores in San Francisco, the city launches another effort to protect the environment. What is apparently the nation’s first citywide program to collect used grease and turn it into fuel is officially underway.

It takes a lot of grease to make the calamari at Puccini & Pinetti, an Italian restaurant near Union Square. The oil, five 50-gallon drums a month, won’t be dumped down the drain. The city is picking it up free of charge and turning it into biofuel.

“People still can’t come to grips with the idea that grease and waste can fuel a vehicle. We’re so consumed that it’s gasoline or some hybrid of gasoline,” says San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

San Francisco has a city fleet of more than 1,600 diesel trucks, buses and other vehicles. The mayor has mandated they all be retrofitted to run on biofuel by the end of the year. This new program, called SF Greasecycle, should help provide a steady supply — an estimated one-and-a-half million gallons a year.

San Francisco began collecting the fats, oil and grease on a trial basis a few months back. About 60 restaurants signed on before today’s official launch.

“Recycling and biodiesel are things in our restaurant goals, our eco-goals that this restaurant holds,” says Keira Moritz of Puccini & Pinetti.

Restaurants and residents who aren’t so environmentally conscious are clogging the city’s sewer system. San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission says half the emergency calls crews respond to are connected to grease problems.

“It’s pretty much like our sewer has a heart attack and that’s a problem. That’s a problem close to four million dollars a year,” says Susan Leal with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The city is not only reaching out to its 4,000 restaurants, but to hotels, businesses, and even schools. Stanford has already committed to the program.

There is no plan in place yet for residents, but if you’re frying a turkey or have other Thanksgiving grease, you can drop it off at the Costco on 10th Street and the city will pick it up starting Friday through Monday.

If you own a restaurant and want to sign up for this free city program, visit www.sfgreasecycle.org.