Innovative cooking oil recycling facility launches in Hounslow - 19 February 2009

Residents are now able to recycle their used cooking oil at Hounslow's recycling facilities in Feltham.

The new cooking oil collection tanks have been installed by Living Fuels - part of the British group Renewable Energy Generation.

Just one litre (that's about 1/3rd of what you'd find in your average chip pan) of used cooking oil can be converted into a new green fuel called LF100 and produce enough clean electricity to make 240 cups of tea!

The collection tanks installed at Space Waye Reuse and Recycling Centre can hold 1000 litres which will produce sufficient electricity to power one average household for a whole year.

Residents are able to dispose of their cooking oil free of charge. It will then be recycled to produce the green fuel LF100 which is powering electricity generators giving back to the National Grid.

The oil can be hazardous to wildlife if it is allowed to seep into the water table through being poured down the sink.

Councils across the country have also been told to reduce the amount of oil sent to landfill to meet stringent green targets or face fines.

Hounslow's Executive member for Environment, Cllr Barbara Reid, said:

"I am very pleased that the range of recycling services available at our Reuse and Recycling Centre in Feltham has been expanded to include waste cooking oil. Waste cooking oil that is taken to Space Waye for recycling will now be turned into a clean, efficient and potentially sustainable energy source.

"We look forward to working closely with Living Fuels to increase recycling within the London Borough of Hounslow, as well as contributing to alternative energy production in the UK."

Living Fuels operations director, Rob Murphy, said: "We collect the oil at no cost and as often as required. All of our vehicles have been converted to run on the LF100 fuel.

"Every time another collection service is launched, it's an opportunity to get over the message that used cooking oil causes major environmental damage when poured down the sink. It costs water companies literally millions to clear blockages caused in sewers by this build-up of oils."

Space Waye, at North Feltham Trading Estate, is open to the public seven days a week from 8.00am to 4.45pm.

The use of used cooking oil in electricity generation reduces carbon emissions meaning that everyone can play a part in building Britain's renewable energy capacity.