Cooking oil recycling is a process where vegetable oil and animal fats are collected and processed to produce biodiesel. The newly formed biodiesel can then be used as a fuel for vehicles or as an additive to reduce levels hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Although biodiesel is not a commonly used transport fuel for vehicles in Singapore, it promises to be a viable alternative, especially in times of increasing oil prices and a greater need for a sustainable environment. Recycling used cooking oil is good for the environment because used cooking oil that is not recycled will have to be disposed off as waste.

Since October 2008, 2 canteens at NUS – Frontier and Techno Edge – started recycling cooking oil as part of a joint effort by Office of Estate and Development (OED) – Retail and Dining and Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES). Alpha Biofuels, the company which processes the recycled oil, collects the barrels (80 litres) from the 4 canteens once every 2-3 days. TechnoEdge is paid $30 for every barrel while Frontier contributes its efforts on goodwill. OES looks forward to extending this initiative to more canteens around campus.

For more information on Alpha Biodiesel, visit the website: www.alphabiofuels.sg

This write up was completed in December 2010 by Lor How Woon Gladwin, Intern with OES