Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC
CWT’s main subsidiary is Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC (RES), which was formed in 2000. It was a joint venture between ConAgra Foods and CWT to develop the processing of agricultural waste and low-value streams throughout the world. RES, now wholly owned by CWT, has the "first commercial biorefinery in the world that can make oil from a variety of waste streams, principally waste from the nearby ConAgra Butterball turkey processing plant in Carthage, Missouri. According to Biomass magazine, "CWT’s thermal conversion process is a commercially viable method of reforming organic waste that converts approximately 250 tons of turkey offal and fats per day into approximately 500 barrels of renewable diesel.". With recent modifications and upgrades the RES plant can now process up to 300 ton/day of waste producing 15 million gallons/year of RDO.
The plant in Carthage, Missouri opened in May 2004. Almost immediately local residents started to complain about a foul odor. In December 2005, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt ordered the plant shut down. The company installed odor mitigation equipment and reopened the plant 3 months later. The plant was closed in March 2009 as the result of bankruptcy. In March 2011 the company indicated that it has gathered the financing to reopen the plant and that it plans to accept used fryer oil as feedstock.
In 2007 two residents filed a law suit against Renewable Environmental Solutions because they say they suffered due to odors from the operation. They also filed to expanded the suit to a class action. A judge denied class action status on March 9, 2011.
As of Feb. 2012, the Carthage Missouri plant is operational. Per the Carthage Press 'Mclaughlin said he hopes to be able to address what he says are odors still emanating from the Renewable Environmental Solutions plant, which started operating last year using new sources of material other than turkey offal to make fuel oil.".
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