Innovative cooking oil recycling facility launches

25 February, 2009, 0 comments

Residents can now take their used cooking oil to the local Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) in Buckinghamshire where processes are in place for the oil to be re-used to generate electricity for householders and businesses.

The county council is working in partnership with Living Fuels, which has developed a process for purifying the oil and enabling it to be re-used for the generation of electricity. Residents will be able to safely dispose of their used cooking oil in collection tanks at all recycling centres. When oil is poured down the sink it can clog up drains and sewers as well as being hazardous to wildlife.

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.

Councillor Martin Tett, Member for Strategic Planning and Waste said, "Each of the collection tanks at the nine Buckinghamshire sites has a capacity of 1,000 litres, and 9,000 litres of used cooking oil could generate enough electricity to power seven average UK homes for a year. I would encourage householders to use this service, as it will help to protect the environment and generate renewable power."

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.

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."

Residents are asked to bring their oil in containers, which can be taken home and re-used for this purpose. This service is free of charge and available to householders only.

For media enquiries please contact Anushka Desai, Communications Officer on 01296 387677.

Innovative cooking oil recycling facility launches

20 February, 2009, 0 comments

Residents are now able to recycle their used cooking oil at the Tower Hamlets recycling facilities at Northumberland Wharf.

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 Northumberland Wharf 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.

Councillor Abdal Ullah, Lead member for Cleaner, Safer, Greener at Tower Hamlets, said:

"Often people don't know what to do with cooking oil and end up tipping it down the sink which clogs up the drains and causes all sorts of problems. The new recycling scheme is a fantastic way for residents to get rid of their used cooking oil for the benefit of the environment.

"We are hoping that people take full advantage of this facility at the Northumberland Wharf Recycling and Refuse Centre and at the same time get rid of other unwanted items to be recycled."

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."

The Northumberland Wharf Recycling and Reuse Centre at Yabsley Street is open to the public from 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9.00am to 6.00pm at weekends.

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.

www.livingfuels.co.uk

Innovative cooking oil recycling facility launches in Hounslow

19 February, 2009, 0 comments

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.

Council cooks up recycling idea

19 February, 2009, 0 comments

Residents in Bedfordshire can now recycle their used cooking oil, as part of Bedfordshire County Council's commitment to encourage more recycling.

All five Household Waste Recycling Centres across the county now include cooking oil collection tanks, which can hold 1000 litres of oil - enough to produce sufficient electricity to power one average household for a whole year.

Just one litre (about a third of what you'd find in your average chip pan) can be converted into a new green fuel called LF100 and can produce enough clean electricity to make the equivalent of 240 cups of tea.

Residents can use the collection tanks at Bedford, Ampthill, Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable and Biggleswade recycling centres to dispose of their cooking oil free of charge. The oil is then recycled to produce a green fuel which powers electricity generators feeding in to the National Grid.

Councils across the country have been told they must reduce the amount of materials, such as oil, sent to landfill, and if green targets are not met, they will face fines.

Councillor Tom Wootton, Bedfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Waste, said: "Householders in Bedfordshire can be proud they are playing a practical part in building Britain's renewable energy capacity, whilst also protecting the local environment.

"Recycling used cooking oil rather than throwing it down the drain could eventually lead to lower water bills from your local water company. The oil also contains significant potential energy which is wasted when it is just thrown away."

Rob Murphy, The operations director of Living Fuels, the company responsible for installing the new collection tanks, said: "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 the build-up of oils."

The Household Waste Recycling site opening times are as follows:

May to August 9am - 7pm
September to April 9am - 5pm

Cooking oil recycling facility now available

03 February, 2009, 0 comments

Lewisham has a new environmental facility for residents and businesses in the borough.
They can now take their used cooking oil to the Council's reuse and recycling centre at Landmann Way, off Surrey Canal Road, SE14 5RS.
The facility is free and is currently open at the following times:
o Sunday-Friday 8-4pm
o Saturday 8-12pm
Staff will be on site during these times to advise and assist.
It is illegal to pour cooking oil down the drain. If cooking oil is disposed of in this way it can seep into the water table and be hazardous to wild life.
The cooking oil collected from the facility at Landmann Way is recycled to produce the green fuel LF100. Just one litre (that's about 1/3rd of what's found in the average chip pan) of used cooking oil can be converted into LF100 to produce enough clean electricity to make 240 cups of tea.
The facility has been set up in association with Living Fuels, part of the British group Renewable Energy Generation.
To check opening times or for further information please call 020 8314 7171 or visit http://www.lewisham.gov.uk and search for "re-use and recycle".

Cambridgeshire residents do their bit for a greener future

28 January, 2009, 0 comments

Cambridgeshire residents have recycled a massive 15,000 litres of used cooking oil since the County Council installed banks at all its recycling centres just six months ago.

The waste cooking oil is recycled by Living Fuels - part of the British group Renewable Energy Generation - to produce a green fuel to power electricity generators which feed into the National Grid.

Cllr Sir Peter Brown, Cambridgeshire County Councillor for Economy, Environment and Climate Change, who oversaw the installation of the first waste oil recycling bank, said:

"We are delighted that our residents have taken to waste oil recycling with the same enthusiasm that they show for all our other recycling services. I think the added benefit of seeing this waste being converted into green energy is excellent news."

Living Fuels operations director, Rob Murphy, said: "15,000 litres of used cooking oil is enough to power fifteen average households for a year.

"Householders in Cambridgeshire can be proud that they are playing a practical part in building Britain's renewable energy capacity while protecting the local environment."

Pouring cooking oil down the sink is a problem for a number of reasons - it clogs up drains and sewers, is hazardous to wildlife if it is allowed to seep into the water table, and it wastes precious unused energy.

For more information on Cambridgeshire's recycling centres go to www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/waste or contact us on 0345 045 5207.

How to turn a New Year's resolution into clean electricity

16 January, 2009, 0 comments

Residents in Ealing are being encouraged to add a new 'recycling' resolution to this year's list and help reduce pollution, keep sewers clean and power factories with 'green' electricity.

You may think you have the recycling business all covered in your household, with paper, card, plastic, glass and tins all making their way through the various waste streams.

But what about used cooking oil?

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

The company behind this unique conversion process is Living Fuels - part of the British group Renewable Energy Generation - and they are installing used cooking oil collection units up and down the country to give householders the means to safely dispose of used cooking oils.

Many householders currently throw used cooking oil down the sink and this causes problems for drainage and the environment. Water companies spend over -15 million each year de-clogging sewers - with Water UK registering 75% of the 200,000 blocked sewer incidents each year to fats, oils and greases.

Private householders also pay out hundreds of thousands in bills to plumbers and drainage experts.

The collection unit in place at Acton and Greenford Re-use and Recycling Centres can hold 1000 litres which will produce sufficient electricity to power one average household for a whole year.

Councillor Sue Emment, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street
Services, said: "Making the streets cleaner is one of our main priorities. We are always looking at ways we can make recycling easier for residents and our recycling rates continue to soar.

"I'm pleased that residents are making good use of the cooking oil recycling facilities and would like to congratulate them on their efforts. Throwing oil down drains blocks sewers, which can then lead to flooding, and makes waste water treatment more costly."

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.

"Recycling your used cooking oil rather than throwing it down the drain could eventually lead to lower water bills from your local water company while the oil also contains significant potential energy which is wasted when it is just thrown away."

Acton Re-use and Recycling Centre, in Stirling Road, and Greenford
Re-use and Recycling Centre, in Greenford Road, are open Mon-Sun, 8am-5pm (between 1 April-30 September) and 8am-4pm (between 1 October-31 March).

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.

So do an extra bit for the environment and make recycling your used cooking one of this year's resolutions.

For more information visit www.ealing.gov.uk/recycling

BEXLEY'S RECYCLING ENOUGH COOKING OIL TO POWER THREE HOMES FOR A YEAR

07 January, 2009, 0 comments

After just three months of offering a used cooking oil recycling service, the London Borough of Bexley has collected enough cooking oil to power three average homes for a whole year.

Residents in Bexley have recycled 3,500 litres of used cooking oil at the Council's Footscray and Crayford Reuse and Recycling Centres, since facilities were installed last September.

The cooking oil collection tanks, which can hold 1,000 litres of oil, were installed by Living Fuels - part of the British group Renewable Energy Generation.

Residents are able to dispose of their cooking oil free of charge. It is then recycled to produce the green fuel LF100, which is powering electricity generators that feed into 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.

Cllr Gareth Bacon, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: "We are delighted with the response to this new initiative in Bexley. As it becomes more widely known I'm sure we'll see even more people taking their used cooking oil to our centres to dispose of it.

"Bexley residents have an excellent record for recycling and this new initiative goes to show how open they are to embracing new ideas that really make a difference to the environment."

Living Fuels Operations Director, Rob Murphy, said: "Householders in Bexley can be proud that they are playing a practical part in building Britain's renewable energy capacity while protecting the local environment."

Further information on Bexley's Reuse and Recycling Centres is available at www.bexley.gov.uk/recycling

Collection tanks installed at 120 civic amenity sites

01 December, 2008, 0 comments

The latest launch of a used oil collection service at Rushden in Northamptonshire brings to 120 the number of collection tanks provided by Living Fuels for householders at civic amenity sites.

Robert Murphy, Logistics and Operations Director of Living Fuels, joined the Chairman of East Northamptonshire Council, Cllr Dudley Hughes, at Rushden to mark the start of the service.

Collections there and in Oundle now enable local residents to dispose of used cooking oil safely and play their part in creating renewable power for Britain.

"We are absolutely delighted to have established this partnership with East Northamptonshire Council and look forward to a bumper response from local residents," said Robert.

"We now have collection tanks at more than 120 recycling centres run by local authorities for householders in London, the South, East Anglia and the Midlands, and we expect this to increase to 160 by Christmas.

"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."

When deposited into the collection banks like those at Rushden and Oundle, the used cooking oil is on its way to being recycled and purified without the addition of any chemicals or supplements.

The recycled fuel - LF100 - powers electricity generators, helping to meet demand for decentralized electricity on industrial and commercial sites. This clean electricity can also be exported by users into the local distribution network for domestic use." Robert added: "The service we have set up in partnership with East Northamptonshire and other local authorities is in addition to the collections we make from food manufacturers, hotel and restaurant chains, government agencies and other sources.

"We believe it is shocking that as a nation we can allow vegetable oil, capable of producing substantial quantities of clean electricity, to be thrown away.

"The collection system now in place in East Northamptonshire and so many other places can genuinely help householders to play a practical part in building Britain's renewable energy capacity."

County Councils

For the record, county councils so far working in partnership with Living Fuels to provide this collection service are:

Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire.

London Boroughs

In London the service has been established in partnership with the following boroughs:

Barking & Dagenham, Ealing, Lewisham, Barnet, Enfield, Newham, Bexley, Haringey, Redbridge, Brent, Harrow, Tower Hamlets, Bromley, Havering, Waltham Forest, Camden, Hounslow.

Rob Murphy joins Living Fuels as Operations Director

01 November, 2008, 0 comments

 Rob Murphy has been appointed Logistics and Operations Director of Living Fuels.

Originally trained as a mechanical engineer, he has spent over 12 years building national and international logistics infrastructures for businesses operating in Europe, North America and Asia. He has also run his own supply chain consultancy.

Rob (39) is married with three sons aged eight, six and three.

"I am passionate about renewable energy and very excited at this chance to be involved at first hand with Living Fuels," he said.

"We are making it increasingly possible for businesses and householders to return their used cooking oil safely, and to be able to recycle energy into carbon-neutral electricity is such a positive development."