main content New scheme turns used cooking oil into diesel

Bromley catering establishments are being invited to take part in a pioneering trial to recycle used cooking oil as vehicle fuel. Already dozens of firms have enquired about the exciting Seltrans project, sponsored by Transport for London and Thames Water, unveiled at last month's Good Going Green Fleet conference.

The pilot scheme offers a free service to collect used cooking oil from restaurants, canteens, fast-food outlets and takeaways. It will start later this month and is expected to run for six months. If successful, the collection service is likely to be continued and offered to catering establishments across a wider area in South East London.

The oil that is collected will be turned into biodiesel, a fuel made from vegetable oils and fats, which can be used in most diesel vehicles without modification to the engine.

Because biodiesel is made from natural, renewable resources, its use reduces greenhouse gas emissions substantially when compared to ordinary diesel. It will be used initially to fuel council fleet vehicles in South East London, but could be extended to other public service vehicles in the future.

The pilot scheme will reduce costs for the firms taking part, as they will not need to pay for the collection and disposal of their used cooking oil.

Although it is illegal for commercial establishments to tip cooking oil down the drains, fat and oil are responsible for more than half of the 100,000 blockages Thames Water clears from its sewers every year.

Blockages can cause floods from sewers, and in some cases lead to the pollution of streams and rivers.

“This project has massive potential to deliver real environmental benefits which also makes economic sense too. We are using the very latest technology and so many organisations are involved. Our unique partnership brings councils across south east London together with our business partners Thames Water, we are now asking catering businesses to join us” said Councillor George Taylor, Bromley’s Executive Councillor for the Environment and Chairman of the Seltrans Group.

Seltrans Travel Plan Co-Ordinator , Charles Tucker, speaking after the Good Going Green Fleet conference said, “We want local catering businesses to contact us and get involved. At the moment, we are only asking Bromley catering businesses to contact us. We need to establish a reliable collection service so that we get a steady supply of used cooking oil - which of course, we need, so it can be turned into bio-diesel.”

Tom Mansfield, TfL’s Acting Head of Borough Programmes, said: “Transport for London are keen to support local initiatives such as this, which offers a creative solution to several pressing environmental issues. The scheme benefits everyone involved, as it gives local catering outlets the opportunity to lessen the impact they have on the environment whilst actually reducing their operating costs.”

Leaflets with more information, including contact details for the project organisers, are being sent to catering establishments throughout the area.

The Biodiesel Initiative for Sustainable Transport from Recycled Oil (BISTRO) is a Seltrans project, hosted by the London Borough of Bromley. The main project sponsor is Transport for London. Project management and technical support is being provided by SEA/Renue, while the UCO collection trial is being organised and funded by Thames Water.

Seltrans is a partnership of the seven South East London Boroughs (Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark), led by the London Borough of Bromley. The partnership aims to shape transport policy in the region so that every form of public transport can be improved, leading to a reduced dependency on cars and an increased accessibility to jobs.

Bromley catering businesses who want to get involved can call the Biodiesel project team on 020-8461-7472 or e-mail charles.tucker@bromley.gov.uk.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670 or Charles Tucker, Seltrans Plans Co-ordinator on 020 8461 7981or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk.