Waste Cooking Oil Recycled into Bio diesel in Jersey

06 March 2007

Transport and Technical Services (TTS) has for some time been exploring the opportunity of recycling waste cooking oil into bio diesel fuel. The development of small scale equipment has now made this possible to be undertaken within the Island .

TTS has been operating a contract for waste cooking oils to be collected from catering premises and then shipped to the UK , for a number of years. The new availability of equipment capable for dealing with the small volumes of cooking oil generated by Jersey, has meant that TTS has been able to put out a contract for the collection and conversion of cooking oil to bio diesel. This contract has now been awarded to a Jersey business.

About 200 tonnes of oil are collected each year from restaurants and cafés. The successful contractor, trading as Channel Island Biodiesel Products Ltd, will continue the collections but process the oil into a bio diesel ready for sale to local bulk users.

Bio diesel is much more environmentally friendly than normal diesel as it produces lower emissions. It is a renewable fuel and has a lower impact on climate change as it contains carbon that has recently been absorbed by plants.

Guy de Faye , Minister for Transport and Technical Services said “This is a really exciting initiative which will not only deal with a difficult waste but also move Jersey a step closer to using more renewable fuels in its transport system. The intention is that my Department will be using some of the bio diesel in our own fleet.”

Steve Harrison who will be operating the contract explained “I have been working on this opportunity for some time and I’m delighted that Transport and Technical Services has appointed me as a partner to make it happen. The aim is to have the scheme up and running by the end of April.”

Bio diesel can be used on its own or mixed with normal diesel. It is hoped that a number of bulk fuel users such as haulage and transport companies, will consider improving their environmental performance by switching to this fuel in their vehicles.