Used oil from Carl’s Jr. becoming alt-fuel for cars
The oil used to cook fries at Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Arizona is getting a second life as fuel for the fast-food chain’s vehicles.
The company that franchises most Carl’s Jr. outlets in the state plans to convert its fleet, including cars and trucks used by repair technicians and regional vice presidents, to run on waste vegetable oil instead of gas by 2010.
Five of the 20 vehicles in the fleet are already running on used fryer oil from Carl’s Jr. restaurants, said Margaret LeVecke, director of marketing for MJKL Enterprises LLC, the Valley-based company that operates the restaurants, as well as Pizza Patron outlets in the Valley.
“We are looking at increasing fuel costs,” LeVecke said. “Since we have cars that are constantly out in the field, we were looking for ways to cut down on that expense. We had a resource right in front of us - our own used vegetable oil.”
MJKL saves a small amount of its used fryer oil, filters and stores it at its offices in Guadalupe.
The process is simple and inexpensive, as is converting diesel vehicles to run on fryer oil, LeVecke said.
Biofuel is becoming more popular with consumers and businesses that are looking for a cheaper alternative to the soaring cost of gas.
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