Employees Helping Shaw's Biodiesel Production

Andalusia, AL, May 21, 2008--Shaw Industries employees in this Alabama town want to help the company in its plan to convert used cooking oil to biodiesel for use in its boilers, according to a story in the Andalusia Star.

The company's managers have asked employees to contribute their own used cooking oil, and to collect oil from their friends, neighbors and favorite restaurants.

Already, the employees are hard at work on the project that officially launched Tuesday.

Tuesday was the official beginning of Shaw's collection program, but employees didn't wait to get started. They've already collected 100 gallons from various sources.

Biodiesel is produced through a chemical reaction involving used cooking oil and reagents. The conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel will be performed at the local Shaw plant, and the biodiesel will be stored for use as a back-up fuel for the boiler.

"There are several advantages to using biodiesel in place of diesel fuel. It's sustainable and cleaner and the biodiesel won't cost as much if some of the raw product is donated.

The biodiesel will also allow the plant to become more financially competitive.

Power and freight costs factored in to the decision to move some Shaw processes from the Andalusia plant last fall. With energy prices soaring, the company is looking for even more ways to justify keeping Shaw's yarn-production processes in Andalusia, despite the distances to the plants at which the products are tufted into carpet.

"We think this project will send a tremendous message that this community supports our plant," Baker said.

Related Topics:Shaw Industries Group, Inc.