Tadweer, the Centre of Waste Management Abu Dhabi, has launched an initiative to convert household’s cooking oil waste into biodiesel for vehicles.
The project has been started in Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha area whereby residents are provided with a five liter container to keep in their homes and fill with any cooking oil waste, instead of emptying the waste down a kitchen sink. The green colored waste containers can be emptied into one of the large collection point containers placed in Al Raha area. The oil waste is then collected, treated and purified to produce biodiesel and glycerol.
The recycling project is in collaboration with Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute), which has developed the technology to treat the cooking oil waste. It aims to promote recycling, reuse and provide the means for communities to suitably dispose of waste.
Tadweer, known for involving students to promote and embed a greener lifestyle in society from an early age, are including them in this campaign. Pupils from Raha International School have been briefed about the project and provided with tools to raise awareness in the community.
Last week, Eisa Saif Al Qubaisi, Tadweer general manager, and representatives from Masdar Institute along with students from Raha International School visited 50 homes in the Al Raha Gardens community to inform residents about the initiative.
As part of the awareness campaign, student volunteers armed with 20 liter containers on wheels, into which waste oil can be poured on the spot, and five liter containers for residents, will be visiting the area weekly for the next month.
A representative from Masdar Institute explained that biodiesel created from cooking oil waste can be used in diesel cars and is a better solution for the environment as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and mono-nitrogen oxide.
The glycerol separated in the process can also be gasified and turned into electricity. (Gulf News)
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