It’s give and take for Sysco sales rep Michael Cohen. Not only does he provide business-building services for his operator customers, but he also relieves them of their used vegetable oil. Why? It fuels his Mercedes. Cohen has been a marketing associate at Hallsmith-Sysco outside of Boston for 20 years. His job requires a lot of driving. However, when Cohen travels from one operation to the next, he is doing less harm to the environment while he helps his customers dispose of their used fryer oil.

When did you decide to begin using vegetable oil?

I got the idea about three years ago. I liked the green aspect and the recycling apect. I did some research and found that there is a vegetable oil movement that’s about five years old. It took me a while to find the right car. I found that between 1981 and 1985, Mercedes hand-built diesel engines that were multifuel. I finally found an ‘84 Mercedes 300TD and did the conversion.

How much do you save and what is the effect on the environment?

It cost me about $ 1,000 to convert the car. I figure it costs me about 25 cents a gallon.There are almost zero bad emissions, plus I get the same mileage.The oil works so well I’m heating my house with it. We run about 50 percent vegetable oil and 50 percent home heating oil.

Did people think this was strange in the beginning?

My wife thought t was nuts at first. Now, I’m a genius. It’s a good message to send to children, that there is another option to the norm.

You help your customers by disposing of their used oil, which can be a problem. I have to ask, though, does it smell like French fries?

There can be a slight aroma. But you can always add a little lemon oil to give it a different bouquet.
- Caroline Perkins, Nation’s Restaurant News. Apr 14, 2008