New plant will recycle outdated beer - Genahol Inc. to run Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio ethanol plant - Brief Article

Modern Brewery Age, Nov 4, 2002

Ground has been broken for the first phase of a new ethanol plant by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). The first phase of the Genahol Inc. run-operation will turn "out dated" or spoiled beer, wine, syrups and other products into the fuel additive. The $3-to-$5-million plant should be up and running by mid- to late summer of 2003.

SWACO Executive Director Mike Long said he is excited about the prospect of keeping such items out of landfills. "This is the kind of project that should open a whole new world of recycling possibilities. We will find new markets for the cans, bottles, wooden pallets, and the liquids that would otherwise be dumped."

Genahol President Don Bogner notes that there are, "30-million cases of damaged or past dated beer alone in the U.S. annually. We hope to handle up to 5-million cases at this plant."

Bogner said there will be an additional savings involved when the plant becomes operational. As brewers manufacture their product, a tax is imposed on that beer. After the outdated or damaged product is destroyed at the Genahol plant, the manufacturer will get a rebate from the federal government on the tax paid.

Eventually, Genahol hopes to expand its operations with SWACO to convert paper products and yard waste into ethanol. At that point, the hope is that up to 700 tons a day can be diverted from the Franklin County landfill and recycled. Bogner believes that will result in the plant producing 10-million gallons of ethanol a year

SWACO will lease the property that Genahol needs for its new ethanol facility. As part of the agreement, SWACO will receive some of the revenues generated by the sale of ethanol made at the operation as part of the rent payment.

SWACO currently operates the 5th largest public landfill in the U.S. and the largest public landfill in Ohio.

The Central Ohio waste authority maintains a web-site at swaco.org.