It is estimated that Maltese households use a staggering 3,600 tonnes of oil and fat every year. Most of this is used as cooking oil and then disposed of in the kitchen drain, ending up in the drainage system and causing an estimated Lm140,000 worth of damage.

In an attempt to make the public more conscious of the effect that used cooking oil is having on the environment, a pilot project was launched yesterday whereby oil is collected and converted into bio-diesel. This diesel causes one-tenth of the damage caused by normal diesel to the environment.

Initially, the project will involve some 24,000 households in seven localities where recent surveys have shown that most oil is used. These are: Naxxar, Pembroke, San Gwann, Sliema, St Julian’s, Swieqi and Ta’ Xbiex.

Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino said the project will help to improve waste management by preventing used cooking oil from entering the environment through the sewage system.

When oil and fats are disposed of in the drains, they cause blockages in the system which cost around Lm140,000 a year to repair. Once collected, the waste oil will be converted into bio-diesel, thus preventing environmental damage.

Mr Pullicino explained that bio-diesel is a clean burning alternative fuel to petroleum diesel, and is produced from renewable resources. He said that everyone will benefit from this project since not only does it aspire to reduce the amount of waste oil which ends up in the sewage system but it also generates a healthier environment through the use of bio-diesel which is biodegradable, sulphur free and generates lower emissions.

WasteServ Malta Ltd head of strategy and development Chris Ciantar explained that plastic containers for the disposal of waste oils may be collected from local council offices against a deposit of 50 cents, which is refundable once the container is returned.

Once the containers are full, they can be taken to a service station where they will be replaced with a clean empty container, unless the deposit is reclaimed. The oils that are being collected are used deep frying oil or fat, oil from marinated food, spoilt or expired cooking oil, butter and lard.

The collected waste oil will be collected from the service stations and converted into bio-diesel by Edible Oil Group of Companies, which is only company in Malta which produces this diesel.

The participating petrol stations are: Paul and Rocco Service Station in Gzira, Palmex Service Station and Savoy Service Station in Sliema, Nabela Petrol Station and VC Service Station in Naxxar and the Wembley Service Station in St Andrews.

It is easy for people who drive a diesel car to switch to using bio-diesel. Just go to the Edible Oil station in Marsa, which is open from 7am to 5pm. No new engine parts are required, no costs will be incurred and switching to bio-diesel – which is slightly cheaper – does not mean that normal diesel can no longer be used.