For more than four decades, Evergreen Grease Service has been quietly transforming one of the most overlooked byproducts of commercial kitchens—fats, oils, and greases (FOG)—into a valuable resource for America’s clean fuels future. What many restaurants once viewed as a disposal headache has become, thanks to Evergreen, a cornerstone of the circular bioeconomy.
The company’s modern story began in 1996, when founders Neil and Diana Liston launched Evergreen with a single truck and a small group of restaurant customers in Adrian, Michigan. Building on generations of family experience in recycling and waste recovery, Neil recognized early on that used cooking oil and grease weren’t just waste—they were untapped feedstocks with enormous potential.
Growing With the Industry
As demand grew, so did Evergreen’s capabilities. The company evolved from collecting oil in simple 55-gallon drums to deploying specially designed bulk containers, improving efficiency for customers and drivers alike. By 2010, Evergreen took another major step forward by opening its own used cooking oil (UCO) recycling facility, allowing the company to better control quality, logistics, and downstream value.
Today, Evergreen operates a dedicated fleet serving restaurants, institutions, food processors, and industrial customers across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania. Along the way, the company has built deep technical expertise in grease traps, interceptor maintenance, bulk oil handling, and UCO logistics—becoming a trusted partner throughout the Midwest food and hospitality sector.
Closing the Loop: Waste to Clean Energy
Evergreen’s impact goes far beyond grease management. The UCO and other FOG materials collected by the company are transported to processing centers, where they are refined into low-carbon feedstocks for the production of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
This process exemplifies true circularity. Carbon that was recently pulled from the atmosphere by plants is reused again as clean transportation fuel—displacing petroleum, reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, and helping decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify, including heavy-duty trucking, marine shipping, rail, and aviation.
Instead of clogging pipes, overwhelming wastewater systems, or ending up in landfills, FOG collected by Evergreen becomes part of a supply chain that delivers cleaner air and climate benefits in communities across the country.
Leading by Example With B100
Evergreen doesn’t just enable clean fuels—it uses them. The company proudly operates a growing number of its own vehicles on B100 (100% biodiesel), demonstrating confidence in the fuel’s performance while further shrinking its operational footprint. By fueling its fleet with biodiesel made from the same types of oils it collects, Evergreen shows customers and partners what a closed-loop system can look like in practice.
Local Service, National Impact
From grease traps behind neighborhood diners to fueling trucks, boats, and even airplanes, Evergreen Grease Service is proof that local, service-oriented companies can drive outsized environmental impact. By combining decades of hands-on expertise with forward-looking sustainability values, Evergreen plays a critical role in strengthening domestic fuel supply chains, supporting clean energy jobs, and advancing real-world decarbonization today.
It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful climate solutions don’t start in a lab—they start in a kitchen.
Learn more about Evergreen Grease at evergreengrease.com
Image Credit: Bailey Arnold, Michigan Advanced Biofuels Coalition.