A new scheme to tackle the problem of how to dispose of used cooking oil has been initiated in Cheshire East.
150 litre cooking oil containers are to be distributed around the region’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs), providing residents with the means of discarding their used cooking oil in an environmentally friendly way.
Although organisations producing large quantities of waste cooking oil must follow certain regulations regarding its disposal, there are only a few schemes in place for recycling domestic cooking oil. Whilst care must be taken when disposing of domestic cooking oil, monitoring this has never been easy.
Cheshire East Councillor Rod Menlove commented: “This is a very interesting project with lots of potential. Disposing of used cooking oils can damage drainage systems if poured down the sink or create a lot of mess in bins. This alternative choice for disposal is both convenient and environmentally friendly.
The discarded cooking oil will be converted into biofuel by bioenergy company Convert2Green. The fuel will be used for more sustainable forms of transport and in heat and power systems.
Menlove added: “We all know the importance of finding new ways to generate energy and biofuels are one way this can be achieved. The fact that this is being done by a Cheshire East company puts this area at the forefront of ideas and innovation in recycling.”
Larger containers will be introduced to a greater number of HWRCs if the pilot proves successful.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.