Averda announced the launch of its new used cooking oil (UCO) service in the UAE “to improve local waste management and also help reduce carbon emissions from road transport.” This UCO service is one of several new sustainable waste services for Averda, all part of its recent 3-year corporate strategy “Renew”, which focuses on addressing the challenge of the climate crisis while unlocking value from waste.

The company said the new service be available to customers in the UAE and they will collect 10 million litres of UCO annually from customers in the region. With an initial focus on the hospitality, catering, and restaurant industries, Averda said it will also work with muncipalities and developers to implement residential collection schemes. The UCO will then be processed to create sustainable biodiesel which can be blended with regular diesel and used by haulage companies, substantially reducing their carbon emissions.

According to the statement, Averda will provide its clients with bespoke oil containers free of charge and a regular schedule of collections with a 24/7 customer service line. In addition, the company will provide recycling analysis reports for each client with a breakdown of the carbon savings that have been achieved.

Biodiesel created from used cooking oil is an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to petroleum and other fossil fuels. The transport sector is responsible for 24 per cent of global CO2 emissions and blended biodiesel requires little or no engine modification. Recycling used cooking oils reduces the consumption of fossil fuels in the transport sector and limits greenhouse gas emissions. This also encourages proper disposal practices among commercial kitchens and avoids the problematic disposal of oils into wastewater infrastructure.

Jobin Solomon, Head of Biofuels Project Development, commented, “Increasing the production of greener more sustainable fuel is a key factor in the global effort to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and help fight the battle against climate change. At Averda we are delighted to launch our renewable fuels programme which will play its own small part in what needs to be a global effort with unilateral government support. Improving the circularity of waste is a central pillar in Averda’s future strategy and this is merely the first of many bold new initiatives.”