Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said a plastic-to-diesel fuel conversion operation expected to launch in Burlington could prove to be a “game changer”, not just for the community but for nationwide recycling efforts.
The Hawk Eye reports Billups made the remarks during Tuesday’s meeting of the Burlington City Council, where members voted to approve a site control agreement with Great River Fuels Inc. The agreement clears the way for the company to begin operations at the former Dresser-Rand site near Central Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Burlington.
Great River Fuels Inc. CEO Jonathan Hazell initially presented the proposal at a recent council work session, requesting site control for the project’s first phase. Hazell said that once production is established, the company intends to expand operations to the former GE/ABB production facility on Agency Street.
Hazell told council members that two investor groups have expressed interest in the venture, which will employ Keepro technology to convert plastic waste into fuel. He said the process produces no emissions and compared it to cooking soup in a slow cooker, with plastics melted into a soup-like substance before additives are introduced to create diesel fuel.
