WASHINGTON - Some Clean Cities coalitions, supported by the Vehicle Technologies Program in the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), have worked with their local governments to convert used cooking oil to biodiesel, according to EERE.

This year, Pima County, Ariz., collected more than 4,400 pounds of used oil at its sixth annual Day After Thanksgiving Grease Recycling Day. Working with the Tucson Clean Cities Coalition and several local businesses, it collected cooking oil at five different locations. Since the first event in 2005, the County has recycled more than 13,000 pounds of grease, which is converted to biodiesel for vehicles.

The City of Hoover, Ala., in collaboration with Alabama Clean Cities, continually recycles used oil all year. Residents can drop off grease at any fire station in the City, which a recycling company picks up. The City has recycled more than 32,000 gallons of used cooking oil since 2007. The resulting biodiesel powers the City's two trolleys that transport residents during community events.

At Loyola University in Chicago, students recycle grease, sell the biodiesel to the University's shuttle bus company and use the residual materials to create Biosoap. Other programs include those in Newport, R.I., DeKalb County, Ga., and Florence, Ala., according to EERE.