CORE collection station at the NBCC Business Expo.
Since the inception of the program, one employee really stepped up to help make a difference and become H2GO's "CORE Keeper." Jared Glick, one of H2GO's wastewater maintenance technicians, took it upon himself to collect the CORE containers from the drop-off sites, contact the biofuel company when they have pickups available and maintain the drop-off sites to ensure they are not an eyesore for the community and businesses they serve.
Collecting the CORE containers can be a messy job. The outside of the containers can be sticky with FOG residue, and occasionally, a container with a loose cap will fall to the ground, splattering Glick with fats, oils and grease. But it doesn't deter him. "I wanted to take this task on to help provide a safe alternative disposal method for used cooking oils, and protect against the premature aging of our sewer lines and lift stations," Glick said when asked why he took on the responsibility.
With the program in place, H2GO is able to keep various cooking oils and meat grease out of the sewers. In March 2017, H2GO put out a press release to local media outlets thanking the community for its dedication and efforts toward the program and keeping the infrastructure of the utility and their homes safe. More recently, H2GO has brought its collection program to local events, such as the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo, to give the community even more opportunity and easier access to dispose of their FOG. To date, H2GO customers have kept nearly 2,000 gallons — the equivalent of about 47.5 oil barrels — of fats, oils and grease out of the local sewers and have saved thousands of dollars in home repairs.
H2GO customers are making all the difference, consistently showing their desire to help. H2GO receives nearly 100 containers of cooking oil monthly, and field crews continually notice a decrease of grease build-up in pump stations. WW
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO is a government utility established in 1976 that provides water and wastewater services to the northern area of Brunswick County (N.C.), including Navassa, Leland, and Belville. H2GO currently provides water to approximately 10,000 customers.