Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. has met all required conditions and submitted its Part 360 permit application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the company said, according to Waste Today.
Established in 2005, the Buffalo-based firm collects and processes used fats, oils and grease and serves more than 28,000 restaurants across 15 states. It operates one of the largest used cooking oil collection networks in the northeastern United States.
As part of the Part 360 approval process, the company initially allocated $1 million for environmental and engineering upgrades at its Tonawanda, New York, facility. However, it said the improvements completed so far have exceeded $2 million and are expected to reach $3 million.
During the permit application process, Buffalo Biodiesel recruited four engineers — two mechanical and two chemical — all graduates of the University at Buffalo School of Engineering. The company said it expects to hire six more engineers in the coming months, along with outside consultants, to meet the requirements associated with the Part 360 process.
The development comes shortly after the company renewed its Part 364 Waste Transporter Permit from the DEC. The renewal allows Buffalo Biodiesel to continue transporting used cooking oil across New York State for processing at its Tonawanda facility.
In a Feb. 11 statement regarding the Part 364 permit, President and CEO Sumit Majumdar said the approval marked an important milestone for the company and its suppliers. He said the firm had worked closely with regulators to meet standards and strengthen safeguards, adding that the permit positions the company for greater operational stability, continued growth and responsible environmental practices across New York.
