Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Demma.
The story begins with Anthony Demma and Jim Bricker, two old high school friends catching up sometime in 2007. It turns out that Jim, an avid environmentalist, and constant tinkerer had converted his old Mercedes to run on used fryer oil. This presented Jim with a bit of a problem though as there was no grease filling station for his automobile. Jim, never being one to let an obstacle get in his way decided to approach local restaurants about acquiring their used fryer oil.
What Jim found was that restaurants were all too happy to stop paying for the removal of their “garbage” and allow him to take it away for free. The seeds were thus planted for what would become Waste Oil Recyclers (WOR). Jim soon found that he was overwhelmed with restaurants that would like him to remove their grease, at no charge. To make a long story shorter, Anthony and another friend wound up loaning Jim money to purchase his first truck. That first truck and Jim (with the help of many people along the way) went on to become a very successful recycling business.
In 2011, frustrated with the lack of attractive investments in the broader marketplace and looking to invest in a socially conscious, Anthony approached Jim about replicating his business model here in Chicago. Jim embraced the idea of bringing his message of improving the environment, creating local jobs and helping to secure America’s energy independence to another major metropolitan area. In 2012 Maureen Demma formed Green Grease Environmental and so began the journey.
The follow-up chapter involves a bankruptcy reorganization and Anthony, via loans made to the company, taking full possession and ownership.
Has it been a smooth road?
In today’s parlance, OMG no!!!!
It has been a learning experience like no other and frankly, if I could not have learned these lessons, I would be a happier person. If you want to know more, we will have to talk.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are doing the dirty work of the cleaner energy industry. We collect used fryer oil for the exclusive use of making biofuel in and for the United States.
We offer restaurants, cafeterias, commissaries and anyone else who fry’s oil in the Greater Chicagoland the opportunity to make a “green” choice with their waste oil. By working with us, a customer knows that their product is going to be used locally for cleaner burning biofuels (as opposed to being used in a number of other capacities or overseas).
We try to differentiate ourselves from competitors by focusing on customer service and the environmental message.
We are proud of our efforts to help the environment and provide good jobs for hardworking people.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I do feel that the city of Chicago, in particular, is a good place as they are very consciousness of there environmental impact.
I would not encourage new entries into this industry. Profit margins are not high, Its dirty, hard work and I’m not looking to make it harder with more competition.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.green-grease.com
- Phone: 855-645-2246
- Email: greengreasechicago@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenGreaseEnvironmental/
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