Tempe wants to know if it can turn food scraps, grease and other food industry detritus into fuel and maybe save the city some money in the process.
So Tempe is partnering with Arizona State University on a study to map out what type of food waste exists within the city and how much potential energy those wastes could generate in a future renewable energy facility.
"We have large food manufacturers that produce a lot of food, and a lot of waste," said David McNeil, Tempe's Environmental Services Manager.