Green energy from oil recycling in Sutton could make half a million cups of tea

imagesCAJJ7KVHRecycling firm Living Fuels has congratulated Sutton residents for preventing 1,600 litres of cooking oil from going to landfill last year, saving 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This equates to enough clean green energy to make 500,000 cups of tea.

Following on from this success, Sutton Council is encouraging more residents to recycle used cooking oil. Residents can drop off unwanted solidified or liquid cooking oil in a plastic container at Kimpton Park Way Reuse and Recycling Centre on Kimpton Park Way, Sutton.

Living Fuels Ltd, part of REG Bio-Power, recovers the used cooking oil into an environmentally friendly bioliquid which is used to generate carbon neutral electricity for UK homes and businesses.

This achievement by Sutton residents contributes to the council’s ‘One Planet Sutton’ target to be a carbon neutral borough by 2025. The council’s ‘One Planet Sutton’ Plan aims to give residents a better quality of life and boost the local economy while radically reducing the borough’s negative impact on the environment.

Recycling oil is not just good for the planet – it also saves money.

When used hot oil is put down sinks it cools and solidifies onto the sides of pipes and causes blockages. An average of £15 million is spent each year clearing drain and pipe blockages around the country which, if left, could lead to waste – including raw sewage – backing up into homes and businesses.

Less clean ups would mean water companies have more money to spend on new advancements in water treatment, more pipes could be laid and more money could go into flood prevention – the possibilities are endless.

Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of Sutton Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee, said:

“It’s great that more and more residents are using this service each year.  However we’d really like to encourage even more people to be greener and to recycle their used cooking oil so that we can make an even bigger difference.

“Recycling oil means that less waste goes to landfill, which reduces our landfill tax and saves the council money that could be put into other services. It also reduces our CO2 emissions, helps to prevent climate change and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels. This, along with the other initiatives we have launched, will help us meet our target of being a zero carbon borough by 2025.”

Rob Murphy, Operation Director of REG Bio-Power said:

“Although the UK is still struggling with its carbon reduction commitments, it’s always nice to reflect on the positive aspects of renewable energy over the past 12 months, especially as the London Borough of Sutton has made a beneficial impact. We offer you many thanks for your efforts.”

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